My first time...

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Specializes in School nursing.

...giving Epi for an undiagnosed allergy. Just after getting my standing Epi orders. Student presented with hives on face and arms. Rash has been occurring on/off for a couple of week on different parts of student's body. Was given benadryl by doctor. Got benadryl from me, but rash spread and student started reporting trouble swallowing and that throat felt "weird." Wasn't taking any chances. Hives disappeared and vitals stable after Epi when EMS arrived. Transported for work up. We shall see what happens after the ED visit.

I feel like I just gave my first Epi-pen all over again.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Cue Old Dude...

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Specializes in School Nurse.

SuperHero Status!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
Cue Old Dude...

Another kid snatched from the jaws of death! School Nursing - that's what we do...snatch kids from the jaws of death; one kid at a time!

Good job Jen!! You prevented a lot of grief today. You make us proud!

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

YAY for the district for having the EpiPen. YAY YOU!!

Epi Pens do make a satisfying "thwock" sound when you administer it. At least, I think so.

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Great work!!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Good work!!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Good job!

Although this also terrifies me! In my new district we don't have stock epi!:wtf:

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I've said this before...we don't have a medical director so a standing order/protocol isn't available to us to stock epinephrine. I wish we did.

But my standing order is I answer to a higher authority than state law or district policy so if a child is having an anaphylactic reaction and God put me there to see it and there is no epi on the shelf for that child...I'm grabbing whoever's epipen that is the closest on the shelf, with the correct dosage or next best thing, and I'm using it.

As a pediatric ER nurse who has handed dead babies to parents to hold for the last time or tried to make dead teenagers presentable for parents to view and hug good-bye forever, and as a parent, I will do everything within my means to snatch a kid from the jaws of death. To Hell with rules and laws and nurse practice acts and district policies...this is where I stand.

Jen's post hit me between the eye's today as a reminder of how valuable School Nurses are as student and patient advocates and how valuable and functional this SN forum is...after wasting time and energy in participating in the attack thread today that was finally pulled by AN. OMG!! I love you guys like a brother or sister and appreciate what you do...just sayin. Keep on keeping on!!

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

Nicely done!! I wonder what the allergen is because of how you stated it's being going on for a while. Please keep us posted!!

Like Old Dude said, this just emphasizes HOW IMPORTANT it is for each and every school to have a nurse on site.

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Specializes in School nursing.
I've said this before...we don't have a medical director so a standing order/protocol isn't available to us to stock epinephrine. I wish we did.

But my standing order is I answer to a higher authority than state law or district policy so if a child is having an anaphylactic reaction and God put me there to see it and there is no epi on the shelf for that child...I'm grabbing whoever's epipen that is the closest on the shelf, with the correct dosage or next best thing, and I'm using it.

As a pediatric ER nurse who has handed dead babies to parents to hold for the last time or tried to make dead teenagers presentable for parents to view and hug good-bye forever, and as a parent, I will do everything within my means to snatch a kid from the jaws of death. To Hell with rules and laws and nurse practice acts and district policies...this is where I stand.

Jen's post hit me between the eye's today as a reminder of how valuable School Nurses are as student and patient advocates and how valuable and functional this SN forum is...after wasting time and energy in participating in the attack thread today that was finally pulled by AN. OMG!! I love you guys like a brother or sister and appreciate what you do...just sayin. Keep on keeping on!!

I spend all of last school year advocating for these orders. We brought a new school physician on board and this was the first thing I wanted. I did a happy dance when I could finally order my free EpiPens and when they arrived in late July. I'd have done the same as you outline above, Old Dude, if I needed to before.

(But, as an aside, school physicians are actually harder to find than one would think for those that don't have them. Especially for a small school district in a sea of larger school districts. And I have my NP friends, but can't reach out to them for orders, etc. in my state.)

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Specializes in kids.
I spend all of last school year advocating for these orders. We brought a new school physician on board and this was the first thing I wanted. I did a happy dance when I could finally order my free EpiPens and when they arrived in late July. I'd have done the same as you outline above, Old Dude, if I needed to before.

(But, as an aside, school physicians are actually harder to find than one would think for those that don't have them. Especially for a small school district in a sea of larger school districts. And I have my NP friends, but can't reach out to them for orders, etc. in my state.)

Well done!

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