Common meds given in LTC facilites? New nurse seeking advice

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Hi I passed my nclex-pn exam this pass Tuesday 8/16 and verified my nursing license on the License verification site on Thursday 8/18. I'm interested in working at my current job as a nurse that I worked at as a CNA and another LTC facility PRN. I was just wondering what are the common meds given in nursing homes to get familiar with them before beginning my new career as a nurse!

Thanks in advance!

Depakote

Keppra

fluticasone

Duonebs

Spiriva

nasal sprays

UTI Stat

latanoprost eye drops

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

I think about chronic disease like HTN, Diabetes, Kidney disease, Rheumatology and mental health common diagnosis. I would then review those medications associated with those disease. I think this is what you find in SNF's. If you attach to a diagnosis it will make it easier to learn the class of medication and lab values that need to be watched associated with that medication.

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Did anyone mention Aricept and Namenda? Fentanyl patches, nitroglycerin patches, Colace, seizure meds (Dilantin). Remember to count apical pulse before giving digoxin. A lot of little important info you need about a med is included on most printed MAR or EMAR. such as don't crush, separate from iron for 2 hours, give on an empty stomach etc....

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Specializes in Cardiac, Stress testing.

I wouldn't try to memorize all of these before your first day. You'll get overwhelmed. Just have a reference handy to look them up as you go for the ones you don't know. This will come with time.

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

And don't forget: oxycodone, oxycontin, tramadol, ambien, morphine, methadone, dilodid, norco

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Well I never worked in a LTC before but I see all the meds they're on when they come to the hospital, the most common I see are:

aspirin

plavix

coumadin

metoprolol

lasix

bumex

HCTZ

lisinopril

coreg

amlodipine

crestor

simvaststin

pravaststin

tricor

fenofibrate

omega 3 fish oil

Vitamin B

calcium supplements

K-Dur (Potassium)

Enalapril

Losartan

Metformin

glimepiride

glipizide

Lantus

Humalog

Novolog

NPH insulin

just to name a few :)

WOW! Thanks so much! This is going to really help me, I'll be sure to make myself familiar with some of the drugs that I don't recognize :)

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Agree 100% - we also gave senna frequently.

It doesn't look like anyone has mentioned levothyroxine, iron, or Prostat.

Also, we usually had at least one person on some type of antibiotic. Keflex, Cipro, Bactrim, etc.

OP, congrats on passing the NCLEX!

Thank you very much!

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Specializes in Nursing Home.

As an LTC Nurse I can tell you that there are so many varieties of meds given in nursing facilities. If your a night nurse, your morning med pass will consist mostly of PPIs and Levothyroxine.

On on other med passes there's ally of B/P meds such as Coreg, norvasc, lisinopril. A lot of oral diabetic drugs metformin, glimiperide, HS med passes a lot of Lipitor, Flomax, Trazadone, Restorill, Klonopin, Serpquel.

In my time I've also given a lot of lasix, Dilantin. So so many meds this is just a select few.

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