Question

A nurse is providing teaching to the parent of a school-age child who has a severe bee allergy and a new prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

a) Inject epinephrine into the same area where the bee stung.
b) Massage the injection site after administering epinephrine.
c) Hold the auto-injector in place for 10 seconds after use.
d) Use the auto-injector only if the child has difficulty breathing.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the parent to use the epinephrine auto-injector by holding it against the child's thigh and holding it in place for 10 seconds. It is important to use it at the first sign of anaphylaxis, not just for difficulty breathing.

Step-by-step explanation:

When instructing a parent on how to use an epinephrine auto-injector for a school-age child with a severe bee allergy, the nurse should include several important steps. The correct instruction would be to hold the auto-injector against the child's thigh and hold it in place for 10 seconds after use. This ensures that the full dose of medication is delivered safely into the muscle. It is not necessary to inject the epinephrine into the same area where the bee stung, as epinephrine needs to enter the bloodstream quickly via a muscle. Massaging the injection site is not advisable as it may spread the medication away from the injection site, potentially reducing its effectiveness. The auto-injector should be used immediately if the child starts to show signs of anaphylaxis, not only if the child has difficulty breathing, as anaphylactic reactions can progress very rapidly.