New Speciality

[LPNRrozo]

Hello! I’m new here at allnurses. I have been an LPN since 2003 and have worked in the hospital setting (med/surg) for about 2 years, then went into corrections for around 5 years. After getting fired from that job...very long story...I started an LPN to RN bridge program. Dropped out because of missing time for a death in the family and then my son spent a week in hospital for Meckle’s and had 4 inches of his small intestines removed. I figured I would drop out before failing out. Then I went into LTC and injured my back so bad that I was on Worker’s Comp for 3 years and had 2 back surgeries with the 2nd on being a spinal fusion. During those 3 years I swore I’d never return to nursing....NEVER SAY NEVER! ? So after the WC settlement money was gone, I had to go back to work. Returned to LTC and then left that and worked for a year as a phone triage nurse in a very busy pediatric practice. Then an opportunity came up for me to work for an allergy practice only 5 minutes from home. Last job was a 40 minute commute with part of that driving over a mountain that created a lot of traffic headaches. The allergy practice also offered $1 more an hour. The benefits aren’t as great but I couldn’t pass up being so close to home. 

Now, with all of that being said I guess I’ll get to my question! ? The only two nurses are retiring in December and myself and a CMA are replacing them. I am training right now with the shot CMA until 12/1 then I will train with one of the nurses on the floor until she leaves on 12/18. I have little to no experience in this new field. I’m stressing that I’m not going to have enough time to really learn all I should know in that short period of time. 

Where can I go to get some basic knowledge on allergy/immunotherapy? I wan’t to learn as much as I can about this speciality and am at a loss as to where to look. Any ideas?

Thanks for reading my rambling and for any suggestions you have to offer!

[Archerlpvn, LPN, LVN]

Y’all should have a manual on dosing and shot schedules and protocols for reactions, missed doses. Every clinic/company doses a little bit differently with dilutions, frequency. Make sure people have their Epi pens and took an antihistamine the night before or the day of especially when you’re administering dilutions for trees in Spring, grass in Summer and weeds in fall, to help reduce more severe reactions/anaphylaxis.