common meds used on mother/baby unit

[dettwiller5]

Hi-

I am a new grad and will be working on a mother/baby unit beginning in January :).

What are some of the most common medications that you see on your mother/baby unit?

[rnnana]

I'm a postpartum nurse, so I'm not familiar with labor and delivery; however, for postpartum patients here is a list, some specifically for C-sections:

toradol

nubain

zofran

percocet

colace

Phenergan

morphine sulfate

Rhogam

acetaminophene

morphine

demerol

Thats about all we use in postpartum.

[rn4babies63]

In labor and delivery we most commonly use Stadol for pain, Paragoric for uterine irritability, Terbutaline, Nifedipine, Hemabate, Methergine, Pitocin and antibiotics such as Ampicillin or Clindamycin. On postpartum almost everyone is RX'd Iron and Surfak. C/S's get Buprenex, Ancef. For pain we mostly use Percocet and Ibuprofen. We also use alot of antiemetics such as Zofran or Phenergan.

[mommybess, BSN, RN]

The most common we use are:

Norco 5 or 10

Motrin

Surfak

Others we use frequently:

Darvocet

Tylenol

Benadryl

Naltrexone

Reglan

Zofran

Phenergan

Milk of Mag

Purlan (Lanolin)

Rohgam injection

Meruvax injection (done on days as an out the door medication only)

Insulin

Infrequent:

Various IV ABXs

PCA Morphine

Demerol

Hemabate

Methergine

Pitocin

[SmilingBluEyes]

I recommend you become familiar with Malignant Hyperthermia conditions and what to do about them as this is a rare, but very serious life or death emergency that can affect people undergoing anesthesia. It's an inherited condition, so genetic counseling is recommended if a patient has a history of anesthesia problems in her family. Ask your patients if anyone among her relatives has problems with anesthetics (whether for dental or medical purposes) and specifically what they were.

The medication used to treat is Dantrolene. and lots of ice to the groin and axillary areas. And supportive treatment.

You probably will not ever see this in PP, but you should still know about it, incase you receive a pt who had suffered this prior...

good luck. You got some really good replies here.

[SmilingBluEyes]

One more that comes to mind is Bicitra, an antacid some anesthesia providers like to have handy or be given prior to operative procedures. It's GREAT for laboring mommies who have painful heartburn. Tastes horrible, but works instantly.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Also meds for babies:

Vitamin K

Erythromycin for eye infection prophylaxis

Hep B vaccine

Hbig vaccine

Gentamycin, ampicillin (IVP) for sepsis r/o, tx in affected newborns

Narcan---only as needed to reverse maternal narcotic effects on neonate

Lanolin ointment for sore nipples for mommies, like Lansinoh

[SmilingBluEyes]

Oh and for sore perineum:

Witch Hazel pads (tradename Tucks)

Dermaplast Spray (great for burns at home too)