Nurse's Role in Basic Medical and Continuing Care for Patients Got Bitten by Snakes

Abstract

         In Thailand, there are approximately 6,000 patients who bitten by venomous snakes each year. Due to intrusion into snake habitats and  decline forest areas causes an increasing number of snakes to trespass into human residential areas. More than half of the patients who got bitten by snakes are farmers in rural areas semi-urban communities After being   bitten, a patient will be treated with basic medical care at a primary care facility, then transfer to a more competent hospital for continuing and effective care. It is mandatory for nurses to take care of snake bite patients effectively by performing the following roles: 1) provide first aid for the bite  by assessing the patients' conditions, immobilizing the inbited areas, and taking the patient to the hospital immediately. 2) assess the severity according to symptoms and signs. 3) provide nursing care according to life-threatening symptoms, such as : acute respiratory failure, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury and therapeutic nursing intervention by injecting venom antiserum and managing possible side effects. 4) provide  continuing therapeutic nursing care to patients according to the pathophysiology of each type of snake venom, as well as rehabilitation. 5) provide recommendations regarding the prevention of poisonous snake bites and first aid when bitten by a snake.