What immediate action should a nurse take for a patient with a suspected anaphylactic reaction?

In cases of suspected anaphylactic reactions, the most critical and immediate action is to administer epinephrine. Anaphylaxis is a severe and often life-threatening allergic reaction that can lead to airway constriction, circulatory collapse, and respiratory distress. Administering epinephrine promptly counteracts these life-threatening symptoms by causing vasoconstriction, increasing heart rate, and relaxing bronchial smooth muscles, thereby opening the airways and improving breathing.

While calling for emergency assistance is essential as part of the overall emergency response, the administration of epinephrine takes precedence because it acts quickly within minutes to stabilize the patient. Antihistamines can help with allergic symptoms, but they do not act rapidly enough to address the acute life-threatening issues associated with anaphylaxis. Lastly, beginning CPR would only be appropriate if the patient were unresponsive or not breathing; however, the immediate action should first focus on reversing the anaphylactic reaction itself through the use of epinephrine.