Allergies and running codes

[usetimewisely]

Ok, so lately, I have been struggling with how to be prepared if I ever have to run a code on one of my patients. I do a good job with learning their history, and reporting changes during my shift. But, in a true code, how to you address a patient's allergies? Especially when they have a list a mile long! I feel like I'd be the thorn in everyones side since I'd be afraid to push meds that have been ordered, but not reviewed and cleared by pharmacy. To me, that's an extra safety step I'm skipping if I just pull it out and give it like I've seen others do. On the other side of things, maybe they are just that familiar with the drugs, while I still have to look up stuff with my scheduled med pass. How do you handle pushing meds with patient allergies?

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Oh, and just so II can be helpful with the thread, I'd look at the pt's allergies and see if any are common with acls drugs etc, that would be used. Look for any cardiac drugs, epi, amiodarone, lidocaine, nitroglycerin,cardizem, atropine,adenosine, etc.

I had guy allergic to ntg recently. Have seen allergies to lidocaine, morphine,amiodarone.

But one has to know what the allergy response is. If someone is coding- they are technically dying/dead. Use of the drugs might outweigh the allergic reaction.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I once had a pt who said they were allergic to epinephrine. They said it made their heart race.

Duh.

I had her too!! Thank goodness she didn't code. What a pain it would have been to premedicate with benadryl before giving her the epi.

Of course, I guess we could have just given the epi and then used an epi pen to treat her allergy. :)