Over reacted

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Telemetry.

So I have been a "lurker" on this board for several months and this is my first post. I finished my first semester of my ADN program in May and will soon be starting my second semester. So in my opinion my nursing knowledge if very limited. Last night my 2 year old son started screaming about bees biting him, upon examination I find a sting on his finger and put ice on it, I then see him pulling at his ear and see another sting there, and then I see at least 4 more stings above his eye. He has had problems with food and seasonal allergies and this was the first time has been stung; I was worried about an anaphylactic reaction. All of the sudden his lip swelled really big! I freaked and called 911, as I was on the phone with the dispatcher I was able to determine that he must have been stung on the lip also, he had no symptoms of anaphylaxis. My neighbor is a volunteer responder with the squad and came running over, when she came in I just looked at her said, he is fine I overreacted. I am kind of embarrassed, although everyone who arrived told me not to be! My neighbor (the EMT) told me when she first saw his lip she thought he was having an anaphylactic reaction.

I know that I am just a student, but I feel like I should have known better and been able to stay calm enough to really assess the situation. I am very FORTUNATE that I was just overreacting and that he wasn’t having a bad reaction. I am just wondering if anyone else has panicked over their loved ones, and felt like this?

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Specializes in LTC, ER.

I think that you are putting too much pressure on yourself. You have only completed one semester of nrsg school, no one expects you to be an expert. Even for those of us that are experienced, when something happens to someone close, esp a child, we would probably panic. As an ER nurse, I would have been upset enough about the lip swelling to call 911 myself. Did you ever find the beehive? Why was he getting stung so much?

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You did the right thing....considering your child's history there is always the possiblity that it could have been an anaphylactic reaction.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Let me tell you when it is one of your own, nursing experience flies out of the window. Main thing is you looked for help, many would rather it was a false alarm than a tragedy especially when it comes to children.

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Let me tell you when it is one of your own, nursing experience flies out of the window. Main thing is you looked for help, many would rather it was a false alarm than a tragedy especially when it comes to children.

exactly, silverdragon.

we are irrational, hysterical, overprotective moms, first and foremost.

nurses- 2nd.

leslie:)

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

my then nine year old son had swollen inguinal lymph nodes when i was a second year student, and i was sobbing, convinced he had lymphoma. (he had a small infected scrape on his hip from a bike skid he tried to hide from me..)

you did exactely the right thing--better safe than sorry. do you know yet how many men treat their "heartburn" at home and die because they didn't wanted to make a fuss or call ems?

you'll always be a mommy first..and that's a good thing!:yeah:

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Specializes in Telemetry.

We did find the nest, in fact my husband was outside killing them when I called 911, he didn't even know that I had called EMS. The nest was in some bricks left over from the contruction of our home.He was stung so many times because he had pushed his dump truck all over the nest, making them good and mad!

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I remember once that my nephew came in limping after swimming int he pool for a bit. I freaked. It happens when it's your kin. Don't beat yourself up!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Hi! I've been a long time lurker too!

When I was in nursing school my mom had a cough and since she had been a smoker many years before, I was convinced she had COPD. It really was just a cold. I over reacted to everything. Now since I hear about every ache and pain from my family members I don't react to anything at all.. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Tele,CCU,ER.

Don't worry!!! Your always a mom first!!! Then a nurse....I always overreact when I worry about my baby...even though I'm a nurse :)

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NEVER worry about overreacting.

My little brother had a cold that he was taking a long time to recover from and my mom was going to take him to the doctor, but he didn't want to go. She decided it was no big deal. The next morning she found him semi-conscious and looking terrible. Instead of calling 911, she loaded him in the car and drove him to one of the smaller hospitals.

She should have called 911 and had him taken to the big hospital. She should have made a fuss and freaked out a lot sooner. Whether it would have saved him or not, I can't say, but she wouldn't be spending the rest of her life beating herself up and feeling like she killed her son.

I'm sure if you asked her, she'd tell you she'd much rather feel stupid for a little while than have to bury her 15-year-old.

:twocents:

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Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med.

Having a) been in anaphylaxis from a bee sting and b) seen children in anaphylaxis, I don't think one can overreact to a suspected allergic reaction. A few minutes can mean the difference in having an airway or not. You did the right thing.

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