Does anyone give Fentanyl IV push?

[ALCCRN]

I need some info to write the policy for Fentanyl IV push. Our state board of nursing doesn't allow anesthetic agents to be given by registered nurses for "anesthetic purposes". However, we can give it for pain. We recently had an MD order it for a vent patient. He claims it won't drop the BP like morphine will. We need a policy written on it before our nurses can do this....Any suggestions??

[ALCCRN]

Our BON says that as long as we are giving it for "pain" that we can give it. But if we cannot give it for sedative purposes. I was more curious about what kinds of precautions are taken. Of course, we would only give it in the ICU, which would have continuous ECG and O2 Sat. But should the patient ALWAYS be mechanically ventilated or is it treated like conscious sedation and there should be emergency resuscitative equipment nearby?

[CVICURN2003]

We give it for post CABG delirium and pain. It has a shorter half life than morphine. Our pts are always intubated with multiple monitoring lines. This has been a "trial" we have been working with for several months.

[nickola]

We routinely give it IVP for pain control in PACU, as well as Morphine & Demerol. We also give Fentanyl & Versed for IV sedation for minor procedures as well as endo. I have worked in both the northeast & the west w/out any difference in P&P re: this. Have been doing this for 10+ yrs in the PACU setting for outpatients as well as inpatients. We are required to keep outpatients for 30 min. after any medication is given.

[Nurseboy1]

In our MICU we routinely use fentanyl gtts from 25-100mcg with ativan boluses or gtts for sedation in our vented patients. We also can give prn boluses of Fentanyl (dose=current rate) q hourly if needed.