A 40-year-old woman is brought to the E. D. after sustaining multiple bee stings while working in her garden. She has multiple welts over most of her body. She is itching her skin and is extremely anxious. Her vital signs are: HR = 151 beat per minute (bpm) on the cardiac monitor, BP = 107/64. Her worried husband informs the nurse that his wife is allergic to penicillin and has had physical reaction to bee stings in the past.
Which assessment would the nurse make first?
What additional information would you gather from the patient and/or spouse?
What drug therapy would the nurse expect the E. D.’s physician prescribe?
The patient’s husband asks the nurse: “What is happening to my wife?” How would the nurse respond?
You are to provide discharge instructions to the patient once she has been stabilized and is able to return home. What type of instructions would you provide the patient and her spouse?