Common meds in the SICU

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  1. by May 18, '11
    What are some of the most common medications/IV drips used in the SICU?

    I'm a student nurse and I'm starting my clinical rotation in the SICU soon and want to prepare myself.

    Thank you!
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    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=567643

    by Ktb228 May 18, '11 5:27 pm
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  3. 4 Comments so far...

  4. May 21, '11 by
    Pressors
    Levophed
    Epi
    Vasopressin
    Phenylepherine

    Sedatives/Analgesics/Anxiolytic
    Ativan
    Versed
    Fentanyl
    Morphine
    Dilaudid
    Propofol
    Percocet
    Xanax
    Seroquel

    VTE Prophylaxis
    Lovenox injection
    Heparin injection
    Heparin gtts (you'll see these a lot with people that are on coumadin pre-op and are NPO after surgery. They will keep the heparin gtt going until their INR is therapeutic again.)

    GI prophylaxis
    Pepcid
    Protonix
    Prilosec


    You'll probably see an insulin gtt and know your different types of insulin durations. Also study your anti-hypertensives like your beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACEI, ARBs, etc. You'll also see almost every antibiotic under the sun, but I would pay special attention to vancomycin. I would also study up on the ventilator and start studying ABGs.

    I'm sure others will throw in more meds, but I just listed the most common ones at my hospital that I see a lot because it would be almost impossible to list all of them.
    turnforthenurseRN, Skeletor, ICUgeek, and 2 others like this.
  5. May 21, '11 by
    Cardio/HTN meds
    Metoprolol
    Labetalol
    Esmolol
    Diltiazem
    Amiodarone
    Nicardipine
    Nitroprusside
    Nitroglycerine
    hydralazine
    Norepinephrine/Epinephrine/Dopamine/Dobutamine/Vasopressin/Phenylephrine

    Others
    Fenyanyl, Midazolam, propofol, lorazepam, haloperidol, hydromorphone, morphine
    Vancomycin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, imipenem, Invanz, cefazolin, meropenem, cipro, levaquin, flagyl, gentamycin, daptomycin, fluconazole, tygacyl

    Regular Insulin, Lantus, Levimir, NPH, etc. Dextrose 50%, Potassium Phos/Chloride, Sodium Phos, Calcium Chloride and Gluconate, magnesium sulfate, heparin SubQ and Gtts, Lovenox, Arixtra, coumadin. Dilantin, Keppra, Sodium Bicarb.

    Some SICUs take vascular surgery patients...If yours does....TPA infusions will be something for you to learn.


    Good luck!
    turnforthenurseRN, Skeletor, ICUgeek, and 2 others like this.
  6. May 26, '11 by
    Well stated

    Quote from ckh23
    Pressors
    Levophed
    Epi
    Vasopressin
    Phenylepherine

    Sedatives/Analgesics/Anxiolytic
    Ativan
    Versed
    Fentanyl
    Morphine
    Dilaudid
    Propofol
    Percocet
    Xanax
    Seroquel

    VTE Prophylaxis
    Lovenox injection
    Heparin injection
    Heparin gtts (you'll see these a lot with people that are on coumadin pre-op and are NPO after surgery. They will keep the heparin gtt going until their INR is therapeutic again.)

    GI prophylaxis
    Pepcid
    Protonix
    Prilosec


    You'll probably see an insulin gtt and know your different types of insulin durations. Also study your anti-hypertensives like your beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACEI, ARBs, etc. You'll also see almost every antibiotic under the sun, but I would pay special attention to vancomycin. I would also study up on the ventilator and start studying ABGs.

    I'm sure others will throw in more meds, but I just listed the most common ones at my hospital that I see a lot because it would be almost impossible to list all of them.
  7. May 3, '12 by
    WOW, thanks so much, this is great!!!