ACUTE ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN HOSPITAL CONDITIONS: A MODERN NURSING APPROACH

Abstract

Introduction. Despite the fact that the patient’s health status is usually assessed by a physician, the modern nursing approach involves the possession of the necessary skills to identify an emergency and eliminate it. The article outlines the main triggers of anaphylaxis developing in a hospital setting. The frequency of acute allergic reactions is analyzed, taking into account the profile of the hospital department. Nursing management in terms of clinical protocol for patients with anaphylaxis is described.

The aim of the study – to evaluate the tactics of nurses in the emergency condition of a patient with an acute allergic reaction, to propose a modern nursing approach according to emergency medical care protocols.

The main part. The study involved 30 nurses from the 6 most patient-loaded departments of a multidisciplinary regional hospital. An anonymous survey was conducted to determine the frequency of acute allergic reactions that provoke anaphylactic shock, as well as to assess the tactics of the nurse in these situations. In addition to general questions, the survey assessed the primary actions of a nurse in the event of anaphylaxis in a patient, according to the modern protocol for emergency medical care, namely the use of epinephrine as a first-aid drug. The study showed that 56 % of respondents in their professional activities faced acute allergic reactions that required emergency treatment. Most of them (61 %) diagnosed anaphylactic shock on their own. At the same time, 68 % of acute allergic reactions were accompanied by respiratory failure and required ventilation support and oxygen therapy.

Conclusions. The most striking is the low rate of epinephrine administration in the first instance when a nurse detects anaphylaxis (only 34 %), which indicates low awareness of the recognition and actions in the event of an allergen-induced patient emergency. The development of a modern nursing approach in the emergency condition of a patient with anaphylaxis will significantly increase the percentage of stabilization of the condition by the time the doctor arrives.