My first time...

[JenTheSchoolRN]

...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.

[OldDude]

As we all know...you may never know. But because of your spot on assessment and intervention the student is walking and talking today.

[Farawyn]

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!!

Or, a brother and sister in a trailer park in Alabama!?

Good job, Jen!

[Farawyn]

Great job, Jen!!! OldDude, you are amazing, I find your posts to be awesome!! Miss being in a school nurse's office!

As we miss you, too.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

And today became my second.

No known allergy. Hives seen on face and neck. Benadryl given. Parent called and on the way. Hives progressed to full body hives, but parent arrived on site ready to take student, no other symptoms seen at this time. Then as I was walking student to parent, sudden SOB, trouble swallowing and stridor you could not mistake. I was running back to my office for Epi. Luckily, student's respiratory symptoms improved almost immediately after Epi-pen given.

I have never been so grateful for standing order Epi.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Yikes! Nothing like a little respiratory issue to get the blood flowing!

[WineRN]

Double life saver!!

Great job at being there for your student and responding!

[kidzcare]

And today became my second.

No known allergy. Hives seen on face and neck. Benadryl given. Parent called and on the way. Hives progressed to full body hives, but parent arrived on site ready to take student, no other symptoms seen at this time. Then as I was walking student to parent, sudden SOB, trouble swallowing and stridor you could not mistake. I was running back to my office for Epi. Luckily, student's respiratory symptoms improved almost immediately after Epi-pen given.

I have never been so grateful for standing order Epi.

Wow! It is SCARY how fast it can turn from hives to airway. Thank goodness the child was still at school and not in their parent's car on the way to quick care or something. The outcome could have been awful.

Great job!!!

[OldDude]

There you go again! Another kid snatched from the jaws of death!! Thank God you were there!