How do you treat headaches?

The drug is still approved by the FDA, if it was that unsafe, if would be taken off the market. The study that found droperidol to be "unsafe" has many flaws- see here: LINK

Problems from droperidol administration are usually from doses that are much higher than what is given regularly in the US. It can cause prolonged QT or Torsades, BUT this is almost always when given at a higher dose than any ER patient in the US will receive, or when given with non-compatible medications. Usually, patients get only 1.25mg in a dose, and not more than 1-2 doses. Most hospital policies state that patients only need to be on a cardiac monitor if they receive a dose greater than 2.5mg- and doses this large aren't really given in American emergency rooms.....

I have never had any patients have an adverse reaction to droperidol. All medications have risks and side effects. I can think of a lot of medications given in the ER that have the potential to be a LOT more dangerous than droperidol......

I have been looking around online, and have yet to find where a Patient Care Technician is "licensed." I have found many mentions of "Certified Patient Care Technician." Please do not confuse the two. Just saying, since you also seem very confused as to the differences between your role as a Patient Care Technician and a Registered or Licensed Practical Nurse.

From what I have found, there are several PCT programs, which are the equivalent of what my employer's Emergency Dept techs orientation training consists of minus the administration of breathing treatments.

For example, one educational program teaches PCTs to be able to:
-Differentiate the role and responsibilities of the patient care technician in each health care setting
-Demonstrate principles and techniques of Standard Precautions, Infection Control and related OSHA Standards
-Identify various safety and emergency principles as they relate to a health care facility
-Communicate effectively with patients, their families and other health care professions
-Properly access and document patient information
-Demonstrate proper body mechanics when lifting, moving and positioning patients
-Demonstrate proper techniques for obtaining vital signs, height and weight
-Demonstrate proper techniques when performing various diagnostic procedures such as EKG, spirometry and venipuncture
-Demonstrate entry-level office skills in the areas of reception, scheduling and word processing

And another program describes theirs as this:
This program will prepare you for an entry-level position as a patient care technician. Emphasis is on technical skills necessary to perform personal care to complex patients, implementation of selected portions of care plan including respiratory services, rehabilitation services, EKG, and phlebotomy under the supervision of registered nurses.

And their curriculum includes the following areas:
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Phlebotomy
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

So... no, you are not doing almost everything a nurse does. You are doing about the same things as a lot of ED techs. If you think that drawing blood, inserting foleys, doing EKGs, performing CPR, and setting out a patients meds is nearly nursing you are VERY wrong. You could teach a lay person to do all of that. Essentially, being "certified to pass out meds" is basically being certified to read a prescription's directions and follow them. Most people who take meds at home do that every day without a certificate saying they can.

You don't assess your patients. You don't know the pharmacology behind the meds you give -- only that you give them this-many-times-a-day, for this-that-or-the-other. You aren't able to look at someone, listen to vague complaints, and have insight into their disease to recognize when they may be in renal failure, heart failure, or having a heart attack. And you probably aren't able to do a lot of other things that nurses do.

I don't mean to sound irritated, but quite frankly I am, because so many people think it's easy and they "do almost everything nurses do." They don't. I love ALL of our ED Techs, and I'd be perfectly happy if all of our ED techs started IVs right along with drawing blood, putting in foleys -- they can do ALL the technical stuff that nurses do -- it still wouldn't take away from the bulk of my job. ANYONE can be taught to do the hands on minute stuff. That is NOT nursing. And if you think it is, go to nursing school and get a real nursing license -- you're in for a rude awakening!

Uor PCT's do some of that stuff but no meds, they are taught how to start IV's but only hep. locks, no fluids and thats only if there really the last resort eg-no RN's/LPN's or paramedics on floor.

Our docs usually give toradol, compazine, benadryl, and nubain all IM, if that doesnt work then you get O2, IV-f 1 L. NS WO, dark quite room, and maybe a little more nubain IV, and a CT, if that doesnt work and heaven help you if your trying to seek narcs, youll get a neuro consult, possibly an MRI, and an LP, then after all that you Might get some demerol or Diluadid, or MS, but this has deterred alot of are seekers, because who the he!* would like to get an LP just to be able to get a one time dose of narcs to get High, I dont know to many who would be willing for narcs bad enough to get an LP, but know there coming in with Abd. pain, back pain, and fake kidney stones, I actually caught one who thought he had a stone and sent him to the restroom for a UA, well he comes out the urines pretty bloody but I notice some blood on his finger, so I ask doc if I could cath him for a UA, well guess who signed out without a cath, and without narcs. period. Now Ive had real kidney stones in the past, and let me tell you if you have you dont care what they do as long as they get it resolved.

Sorry, new nurse here. Why is it that you wait until after CT to give Toradol?

I've never heard of such a Patient Care Technician either. Sounds fishy....

Unfortunately, being in a "smaller" ED, a lot of the docs will give the standard 1-2mg Dilaudid and Zofran. One memorable one recently got a BOATLOAD of narcs, including 150mg Demerol IM, 2mg IV Dilaudid (3 times!) and a ton of Phenergan. She had already used her home Rx's of oxycodone and oxycontin. Pt hx showed way too many visits to our ED (1-2/week) and I'm sure if we could see all the other area hospitals records.....

There is no protocol for this ED, and that bugs me. Every migraine is not the same, but 1/2 of our pt's get CT's, some don't. There is no rhyme or reasoning to any of it, besides what the doc feels like doing.

Uh, what? This is definitely not the post to debate or do I every have the energy to debate the differences between your skill and mine. There is a huge difference between what you do and what an RN does. There is a MAJOR DIFFERENCE! That said, back to HA's. I wish my headaches were as easily cured as yours with relaxation techniques and deep breathing. Unfortunately for me, and many migraine sufferers, it takes more. Thankfully I have found a great prescription that does the trick for me. Don't get me wrong, when I am hurting, I'll try anything. If only I had a compassionate 4 year old hanging around......

I personally take motrin and then drive to work for my 12 hour shift.

Seriously though, there are lots of avenues we use in the ED. Depends on the doc....we even use high flow O2 NRB when it's my patient along with the meds (have had good results with that)....plus a nice cool cloth on the forehead and a darkened room if the patient likes.

Our protocol is 25mg Benadryl, 10mg Compazine, and 30mg Toradol all IV. We change it up a bit if pt has allergies but rarely does the patient receive narcotics. We have our frequent fliers and depending on the Doc on depends on what they get. I think since this is protocol we possibly get fewer c/o of headaches. Back pain- that's a different story.

If the patient does not have a prior hx of migraines or is complaining of "the worst headache of my life," Toradol (an NSAID) may be withheld until a negative CT scan rules out a bleed or other intracranial pathology.

My thoughts exactly!