HELP!!! with ACLS Drugs!

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

HELP!!!

I am taking the ACLS test in 3 days ~ how on earth can I learn all these DRUGS??
There's like 8 different drugs and they said we have to know their routes, dosages, etc....everything!

ACLS people, HOW DID YOU DO IT?

help
help
:uhoh21:

Only eight? You should see the list of cardiac meds I have to learn.

Try making flash cards. Make several sets. You'll notice on aboutset #5 that you don't have to look at your notes anymore.

That's when you know you know them.

Good luck!

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

HELP!!!

I am taking the ACLS test in 3 days ~ how on earth can I learn all these DRUGS??
There's like 8 different drugs and they said we have to know their routes, dosages, etc....everything!

ACLS people, HOW DID YOU DO IT?

help
help
:uhoh21:

Only eight? You should see the list of cardiac meds I have to learn.

Try making flash cards. Make several sets. You'll notice on aboutset #5 that you don't have to look at your notes anymore.

That's when you know you know them.

Good luck!

Town & Country · Jan 25, 2005

Thank you so much for the tips!

I usually don't have a problem with memorization but for some reason I find this difficult and your suggestions help alot!!

Town & Country · Jan 25, 2005

Thank you so much for the tips!

I usually don't have a problem with memorization but for some reason I find this difficult and your suggestions help alot!!

chip193 · Jan 25, 2005

Take a look at how the drugs are actually packaged.

Epi - 1 mg in 10 cc (1:10,000)

Atropine - either 0.5 or 1 mg in 5 cc

etc.

This is how I taught the medics to do it. It also seems to work for the nurses in the ACLS classes that I teach now.

You need to learn what the drugs do (not down to the cellular level!) - just the basics.

"Atropine speeds the firing of the SA node."

"Epinepherine increases contractility and increases pulse rate."

Then you can back into when to use the drugs.

Good luck!

Chip

chip193 · Jan 25, 2005

Take a look at how the drugs are actually packaged.

Epi - 1 mg in 10 cc (1:10,000)

Atropine - either 0.5 or 1 mg in 5 cc

etc.

This is how I taught the medics to do it. It also seems to work for the nurses in the ACLS classes that I teach now.

You need to learn what the drugs do (not down to the cellular level!) - just the basics.

"Atropine speeds the firing of the SA node."

"Epinepherine increases contractility and increases pulse rate."

Then you can back into when to use the drugs.

Good luck!

Chip

needsmore$ · Jan 26, 2005

"beta makes the heart beat better"

Remember Isuprel ? (for us old--I mean seasoned ED group)

Mneumonics do help-

"Shock, Shock Shock, everybody shock-all shock-little shock"

(defib, defib, defib, epi, defib, amiodarone, defib, lidocaine, defib)

"If a person has a pulse-only give 150 of Amiodarone

If a person's dead-give "em 300"

Good luck

Anne

sharann, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2005

"beta makes the heart beat better"
Remember Isuprel ? (for us old--I mean seasoned ED group)
Mneumonics do help-
"Shock, Shock Shock, everybody shock-all shock-little shock"
(defib, defib, defib, epi, defib, amiodarone, defib, lidocaine, defib)
"If a person has a pulse-only give 150 of Amiodarone
If a person's dead-give "em 300"
Good luck
Anne

I always liked NAVEL to remember drugs that can can down an ET Tube

Narcan

Atropine

Valium

Epi

Lidocaine

Of course, things may have changed since I last certified last year!Good luck.

Just remember the basics: Atropine SPEEDS up the heart etc...

ABC's of course

Basic heart arrythmias and normals

Town & Country · Jan 26, 2005

Thanks for the tips.

I'm studying and breaking. LOL

I can't just do the same thing or my eyes start to cross.

I still feel like I don't know it well enough, but on the other hand, I'm not a machine and I just can do what I can do.

It is difficult.

I did go to the ACLS.net site, but they still have the precordial thump on there and that's not up-to-date so I didn't look at it further; I was afraid I'd get confused.

I'm just trying to keep it all straight and crossing my fingers! :coollook:

Toby's mum · Jan 26, 2005

Only eight? You should see the list of cardiac meds I have to learn.
Try making flash cards. Make several sets. You'll notice on aboutset #5 that you don't have to look at your notes anymore.
That's when you know you know them.
Good luck!

Chris,

This sounds like a great idea.

Would you be willing to share a typical flash card with us for one of the ACLS drugs so we can get an idea of how you would lay the information out? That would be very helpful if you have time. I just want to see how you do one of them, so that I can set mine up in a similar fashion. THanks, Stephanie

Town & Country · Jan 28, 2005

I passed!!!

I'm ACLS certified!

........twitch........shudder............shake...........twitch....................

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2005

Was it as bad as you had anticipated?