Any idea of what I'm talking about?

RNNJ · Nov 13, 2007

OK! You are just graduating Nursing school and want to know about the anesthesia meds? You really need to stop and think. If you are in it to be a good nurse anesthetist, you need to get the most out of your ICU nursing. Learn about the drips and the physiology and the pathophysiology. I know you are excited but you'll get in anesthesia school without the knowledge of paralytics, really... They won't be impressed if you wasted your time in the ICU. That is not why they require it. Forget the cards, get a decent ICU book and learn about the patient population you'll be caring for.

Oh, and good luck...

jemommyRN · Nov 13, 2007

RNNJ,

Thanks, you just gave me some great advice!

Rage,

I like the fact that you're soo focused and rearing to go! Can't wait till we get there!

Rage, RN · Nov 13, 2007

RNNJ, I appreciate what your saying. And I am focusing on my ICU experience which is why I am also preparing to take the CCRN certification, so that I will be ready when my 1500 bedside hours are up. But at the same time I know where my weaknesses are, and they are the meds. So I have boned up on my betas, calcium channel blockers, my osmotics and loops, morphine of course is a sedative, my emetics, antibiotics, etc .........all in the focus of being in ICU.

But of course that wasn't my question..............

GregRN · Nov 14, 2007

morphine of course is a sedative

?????

mmc-rockstar · Nov 14, 2007

OK, I am a SRNA and would like to know if there are anesthesia specific med cards out there, so if anyone knows of good ones please share..

Lissyann · Nov 14, 2007

Found this....

http://umed.med.utah.edu/MS1/pharm.cfm

RNNJ · Nov 14, 2007

RNNJ, I appreciate what your saying. And I am focusing on my ICU experience which is why I am also preparing to take the CCRN certification, so that I will be ready when my 1500 bedside hours are up. But at the same time I know where my weaknesses are, and they are the meds. So I have boned up on my betas, calcium channel blockers, my osmotics and loops, morphine of course is a sedative, my emetics, antibiotics, etc .........all in the focus of being in ICU.
But of course that wasn't my question..............

I am sorry... I was trying to give you a little more insight in what you are going to be facing... I don't know of any "med cards" for anesthetics. However, there are two little nice handbooks that would give you an insider's look into the anesthetic management of different cases without breaking the bank and still give you exposure:

One is called Clinical Anesthesia Procedures of the Massachusetts General Hospital. The other is referred to as the Ezekiel book. Unfortunately I can't remember what it is called. I'll get back to you on that one next week. And of course the bible of anesthesia is Morgan and Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology. That has drugs in it as well as million other things. Hope this helps...

Rage, RN · Nov 15, 2007

Sorry Greg I should have said opiate..........I just got off a 12hr clinical rotation in ICU when I responded, where I had to attend to a girl that was mauled by 2 dogs, unfortunately we lost her......should have given it more thought.

RNNJ I didn't mean to appear terse but as you noted I am a focused person, classical type "A" or better known as "OFS" (old fart) syndrome. And of course I appreciate your suggestion, but it does seem that soooooo many time (especially in the CRNA section) that responses have nothing to do with the original post.

My current library consist of :

How to Survive in Anaesthesia - Guide for Trainees

Handbook of Anesthesiology (2004-2005)

Cambridge University Press The Anaesthesia Science

Analgesic v4-2002 (Theraputic Guidelines - Pain Management)

Anaesthesia for the High Risk Patient

Analgesia - C. Stein

Textbook of Neuroanaesthesia and Critical Care

Anaesthetic and Obstetric Mgmt of High-Risk Pregnancy 3rd ed

Clinical Anesthesiology (Lange's) 3rd ed

Clinical Anesthesia 4th ed - P. Barash

Textbook of Anaesthesia 4th ed. - A. Aitkenhead, D. Rowbotham, G. Smith

So yes I have the information at hand but would have to develop the cards independently...........and of course I have the programs that would allow me to do that as well (having dealt with computers since the Atari 400 in 1980). But I was looking for the "easy" way out by trying to find cards similar to the "Nurse's Med Deck" by F.A. Davis (which I also have, 10th edition) and create a flip binder to quiz myself on during my "off" times like during Thanksgiving. Not being married and having no children allows me plenty of time to acquire knowledge during the holidays when I don't have to worry about holidays and family gatherings................yes it's a sad life but its the cards I was dealt so I make the best of it.

RNNJ · Nov 15, 2007

RNNJ I didn't mean to appear terse but as you noted I am a focused person, classical type "A" or better known as "OFS" (old fart) syndrome. And of course I appreciate your suggestion, but it does seem that soooooo many time (especially in the CRNA section) that responses have nothing to do with the original post.
My current library consist of :
How to Survive in Anaesthesia - Guide for Trainees
Handbook of Anesthesiology (2004-2005)
Cambridge University Press The Anaesthesia Science
Analgesic v4-2002 (Theraputic Guidelines - Pain Management)
Anaesthesia for the High Risk Patient
Analgesia - C. Stein
Textbook of Neuroanaesthesia and Critical Care
Anaesthetic and Obstetric Mgmt of High-Risk Pregnancy 3rd ed
Clinical Anesthesiology (Lange's) 3rd ed
Clinical Anesthesia 4th ed - P. Barash
Textbook of Anaesthesia 4th ed. - A. Aitkenhead, D. Rowbotham, G. Smith

It seems as though you already have more than you need to get started. Good luck...

kirbybunny · Nov 25, 2007

Hey Guys,
I just completed a rotation in OR with a great CRNA named Mark who really went into the teaching mode and showed me some amazing aspects of Anesthesia. Since CRNA is and has been my focus since I started NS, his tutorage was deeply appreciated. But I digress........
There was a SRNA there as well, who had a deck of pharm cards on neuromuscular blocks, Opiates, Sedation meds, etc.......he said he got the cards on line (came in a zip file I think and had to print them) for about $17.00 and was going to send me the URL. Well, so far he hasn't and I was wondering if anyone here has heard of it or knows the URL to the site. I'm asking because I've rotated out of that Hospital and don't have access to him anymore.
Even though I grad NS school next semester, I'm studying for my CCRN for ICU and want to get a jump on the pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of anesthesia meds..........let's just say I'm a focused dood........................lol

There is a person on Ebay who sells anesthesia reference materials - med info cards and clipboards. Just search "crna" on Ebay and you should find him. I did not order these materials, so not sure what the quality is. He does have a 100% rating, though! Best of luck to you!

~ Jen

Rage, RN · Nov 25, 2007

Thanks Jen, I was pm'ed and received a site called CRNAstuff.com that had what I was looking for. But I appreciate your response.