Key Concepts
Overview
Allergen immunotherapy ties high-yield nursing judgment to airway, perfusion, infection control, and safe medication administration. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) exposes allergic patients to incrementally increasing allergen extracts to induce immune tolerance, reducing rhinitis, asthma exacerbations, and anaphylaxis risk over months to years. Administration occurs only under medical supervision with post-injection observation (typically 30 minutes) because systemic reactions and anaphylaxis can occur even after uneventful prior doses. Nurses verify extract identity, dose schedule, vital signs, asthma control (many clinics defer if peak flow poorly controlled), and concomitant beta-blocker issues (may blunt epinephrine response—team decision). Emergency kit includes intramuscular epinephrine, H1/H2 antihistamines, albuterol, IV access supplies, and oxygen. Patient education covers avoiding exercise and heat immediately after injection, recognizing urticaria, throat tightness, wheeze, syncope, and the need to remain on-site for observation. Document injection site reactions (large late local swelling vs immediate systemic). Cross-link US RN lessons hub · Canada RN lessons hub and related LESSON cards where the stem crosses systems. Pathophysiology in plain language. Think in layers: cells → organs → whole-person compensation. When a stem describes acute change (fever, pain,...