Nokea
A patient who is scheduled for a skin test informs the nurse that he has been taking corticosteroids to help control his allergy symptoms. What nursing intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. The patient should take his corticosteroids regularly prior to testing.
- B. The patient should only be tested for grass, mold, and dust initially.
- C. The nurse should have an emergency cart available in case of anaphylaxis during the test.
- D. The patients test should be cancelled until he is off his corticosteroids.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Corticosteroids and antihistamines, including over-the-counter allergy medications, suppress skin test reactivity and should be stopped 48 to 96 hours before testing, depending on the duration of their activity. Emergency equipment must be at hand during allergy testing, but the test would be postponed.
You may also like to solve these questions
A nurse is preparing a patient for allergy skin testing. Which of the following precautionary steps is most important for the nurse to follow?
- A. The patient must not have received an immunization within 7 days.
- B. The nurse should administer albuterol 30 to 45 minutes prior to the test.
- C. Prophylactic epinephrine should be administered before the test.
- D. Emergency equipment should be readily available.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Emergency equipment must be readily available during testing to treat anaphylaxis. Immunizations do not contraindicate testing. Neither epinephrine nor albuterol is given prior to testing.
A child is undergoing testing for food allergies after experiencing unexplained signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity. What food items would the nurse inform the parents are common allergens?
- A. Citrus fruits and rice
- B. Root vegetables and tomatoes
- C. Eggs and wheat
- D. Hard cheeses and vegetable oils
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most common causes of food allergies are seafood (lobster, shrimp, crab, clams, fish), legumes (peanuts, peas, beans, licorice), seeds (sesame, cottonseed, caraway, mustard, flaxseed, sunflower seeds), tree nuts, berries, egg white, buckwheat, milk, and chocolate.
An office worker takes a cupcake that contains peanut butter. He begins wheezing, with an inspiratory stridor and air hunger and the occupational health nurse is called to the office. The nurse should recognize that the worker is likely suffering from which type of hypersensitivity?
- A. Anaphylactic (type I)
- B. Cytotoxic (type II)
- C. Immune complex (type III)
- D. Delayed-type (type IV)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most severe form of a hypersensitivity reaction is anaphylaxis. An unanticipated severe allergic reaction that is often explosive in onset, anaphylaxis is characterized by edema in many tissues, including the larynx, and is often accompanied by hypotension, bronchospasm, and cardiovascular collapse in severe cases. Type II, or cytotoxic, hypersensitivity occurs when the system mistakenly identifies a normal constituent of the body as foreign. Immune complex (type III) hypersensitivity involves immune complexes formed when antigens bind to antibodies. Type III is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, certain types of nephritis, and bacterial endocarditis. Delayed-type (type IV), also known as cellular hypersensitivity, occurs 24 to 72 hours after exposure to an allergen.
A patient is brought to the emergency department (ED) in a state of anaphylaxis. What is the ED nurses priority for care?
- A. Monitor the patients level of consciousness.
- B. Protect the patients airway.
- C. Provide psychosocial support.
- D. Administer medications as ordered.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anaphylaxis severely threatens a patients airway; the nurses priority is preserving airway patency and breathing pattern. This is a higher priority than other valid aspects of care, including medication administration, psychosocial support, and assessment of LOC.
A patient is receiving a transfusion of packed red blood cells. Shortly after initiation of the transfusion, the patient begins to exhibit signs and symptoms of a transfusion reaction. The patient is suffering from which type of hypersensitivity?
- A. Anaphylactic (type I)
- B. Cytotoxic (type II)
- C. Immune complex (type III)
- D. Delayed type (type IV)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A type II hypersensitivity reaction resulting in red blood cell destruction is associated with blood transfusions. This type of reaction does not result from types I, III, or IV reactions.