That was a first

Specialties School

Published

Soooo......I gave epi this morning.  7 years of school nursing and today is the first time.  

Hives/splotchy and kid reported wheezing/tightness.  Gave the epi, called EMS and mom.  Kiddo was better by the time mom got there so EMS gave mom the option and she said she was going to take kiddo to the ER (we have no faith in that).

All in all, it was fairly anti-climatic.

How's your Monday?

GdBSN, RN

652 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse.

BAM! (in the words of old dude) Great job! It was only anti-climatic because you were there to do what needed to be done. Great job!

NutmeggeRN, BSN

2 Articles; 4,621 Posts

Specializes in kids.

Snatched for the jaws of death! Good job. EMS allowed no transport?? What about the possibility of a bi-phasic reaction?? Eeeps  not in my town. They are really good.

tining, BSN, RN

1,071 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse.

It is amazing to see the recovery process after an epi administration.  The look of relief.  However that is a huge needle and bleeds like crazy!

JoJoGo

16 Posts

Specializes in School Nursing.

You never forget your first time ? It is amazing to see the relief once that initial jolt wears off, isn't it?

Flare, ASN, BSN

4,431 Posts

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Snatched from the jaws of death, indeed!  Great job!! You're a life saver and that should be celebrated!!

I had a similar scenario where ems was called after I gave the epi, but dad had gotten here right away and signed ama for ems.  I warned him that there could be a secondary reaction once the epi wears off and that he should go to the ER,  but dad thought he knew best and went to the pedi, where the kid proceeded to go into anaphylaxis while they were in the waiting room.  Sooo glad I documented everything.  

tining, BSN, RN

1,071 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse.

I gave my first glucagon last year, that too was an interesting recovery.  Student didn't even remember getting the shot.

 

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN

2,776 Posts

Specializes in school nurse.
23 hours ago, Flare said:

Snatched from the jaws of death, indeed!  Great job!! You're a life saver and that should be celebrated!!

I had a similar scenario where ems was called after I gave the epi, but dad had gotten here right away and signed ama for ems.  I warned him that there could be a secondary reaction once the epi wears off and that he should go to the ER,  but dad thought he knew best and went to the pedi, where the kid proceeded to go into anaphylaxis while they were in the waiting room.  Sooo glad I documented everything.  

Did you ever have another conversation with that dad?

20 hours ago, tining said:

I gave my first glucagon last year, that too was an interesting recovery.  Student didn't even remember getting the shot.

 

We're starting to see nasal glucagon; sort of similar to giving Narcan.

WineRN

1,109 Posts

Specializes in NCSN.

Amazing job! They are lucky they have you there to save lives!! 

Specializes in School nursing.
On 5/17/2021 at 1:46 PM, Flare said:

Snatched from the jaws of death, indeed!  Great job!! You're a life saver and that should be celebrated!!

I had a similar scenario where ems was called after I gave the epi, but dad had gotten here right away and signed ama for ems.  I warned him that there could be a secondary reaction once the epi wears off and that he should go to the ER,  but dad thought he knew best and went to the pedi, where the kid proceeded to go into anaphylaxis while they were in the waiting room.  Sooo glad I documented everything.  

At least he was in the doctor's office where hopefully they had more Epi on standby. Hate to think about them at home...

I have never had a parent beat EMS to school after I've given Epi. I work in a urban area, so EMS response time is usually <6 minutes. My call to the parent is - which hospital would you like to meet us at?

I did have one student with localized hives (no known allergy) once - called Dad for pick-up, Dad was on site, and we were walking down the hall, and BAM, full blown anaphylaxis with stridor. I had my standing order Epi on me, so I was jabbing the student immediately. Dad, however, only spoke Spanish, and my Spanish is very, very meh. I was calling one person to call 911 for me and then for my bilingual office manager to help me talk to Dad about how EMS was coming and YES, your child needs to go with them and NOT go in your car. Luckily, one of the EMS was also bilingual and together we convinced Dad when they arrived. 

I NEED to finally follow through in my quest to fully learn Spanish. I can read it and understand some of it, but I need an immersion course to get to the level I need with my families. 

Flare, ASN, BSN

4,431 Posts

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
19 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

Did you ever have another conversation with that dad?

I spoke to the mom, who said she was getting him to the allergist right away... blah blahblah... I followed up again, appointment moved, then covid... I had to mentally move on.  

Cas1in72

186 Posts

Specializes in school nursing/ maternal/child hospital based.

Great job!!! School Nurses are ESSENTIAL!  I remember the first time I gave Epi, my heart was beating so fast you would have thought I had a dose.  It is amazing to see how fast it works.  

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