Envenomation

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Specializes in ICU.

I am going to do it! I am definitely going to do it. It needs to be done, I have only seen one other article on this topic so I am definitley going to do.

Write an article on nursing care of the Envenomated patient.

But! I need input. I want stories. What you found out, how the patient fared, what you did, what observations you took ANYTHING!! This article needs to be written for all of us.

Give me which part to contribute to.....hehheehe

Wait for me input

Snakes ? Spiders ? or both ?

I have alot of funnel webb stories. here on the central coast we have the funnel webb capital of NSW.

Specializes in ICU.

Thanks - any and all - MAny years ago working in central QLD I devised an "Envenomation observation chart as I got frustrated watching nurses do the Glasgow Coma score on envenomated patients where the problem was not going to be loss of consciousness but rather paralysis, DIC and myotoxic effects.

It was frustrating watching nurses with good intentions checking the pupils for change unaware that the ability to open the eyes was more indicative of systemic envenomation.

I have to an update on my research but this is an area that has a plethora of medical reports and virtually no nursing literature to guide care.

What observations do you do?

Do you mobilize your patients before you discharge them

What discharge advice do you give the patients (apart from "don't get bitten again":))

What are the common indicators of serious envenomation? With snakebite a common indicator is headache but there is no research confirming whether this is common to all envenomations or just snakebite.

I am less familiar with funnel web bite than I am with snake bite, red back and marine envenomation.

PS don't post pictures our American cousins tend to freak out when they see the size of our spiders:D

Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

You ain't gettin me in on this one gwenith!!!

I suffer from arachniphobia!! BIG time!!!

Sittin here shuddering just at the very thought of

those things! Gives me the CREEPS!...

However, I'll contribute in a small way.... frothing at the mouth is one sign of funnel web

envenomation.

That's it! I'm outta here, just writing about it

is giving me the "heebee geebee's"!!!

Cheers,

Grace

Funnel web bite.

observe for :

Signs of shock

Increased HR RR BP Sweating..not sure if thats more to do with panic of being bitten or the actual bite.

If they are alert and orientated...usually not by the time they get to us.

they now reccomend using a pressure bandage in the figure 8 up and back down above and below the bite...one of those stretch ones that you overlap by a half.

Then are they frothing and fitting....=Bad

Muscle spasms...twitching

they get the anti Venom

routine obs Bloods....it can cause heart damage so ckmb

also kidney damage

they have to be voiding and able to walk with no assistance to go home..I'm sure there is more I'll look up the policy when I go in to work

Specializes in MS Home Health.

Wow I have nothing to contribute to this......sorry. I have never experienced that firsthand.

renerian

Specializes in ICU.

Thank-you RN form Oz.

Have you observed the patients complaining of headache? There is some anecdotal evidence that the degree of headache in snakebite can correlate to the degree of systemic envenomation.

PS renerian - this thread is likely to get scarey real fast ::eek:We have some of the most venomous creatures in the world:chuckle

We dont get much of this in the nursing homes or the Hostels - only the associated hysteria when one of the maintenance staff or the DON kills a snake (yes l know they are protected - but the shovel slips when we try and scoop them out of the way ---- heee heee heee)

Sorry in all honesty l cant come up with anything constructive

Tookie

Specializes in ICU.

Naughty NaughtyTookie :nono:

Although it is illegal to kill a snake appearantly this does not apply if you are endangered. Anyone who has worked A&E will tell you we definitely prefer the snake DEAD when brought in!!!

Wouldn't be the first time that a snake has got loose and all the staff end up standing on the trolleys looking for the nearest heavy metal object to throw at this hissing mad snake.

A friend of mine admitting a patient in ICU for suspected snake bite poked the pillowcase on the trolley asking innocently "What is this." We just about had to peel her off the ceiling when the darn thing hissed!!

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