Commonly used drugs

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I was wondering if anyone could help me out with commonly used drugs in the OB/GYN area. I am leaving my current job as an ER nurse and moving to an OB/GYN surgical unit soon and want to be as prepared as possible. I want to put together a little pocket reference card that I can easily refer to while I'm on orientation. Any other words of advice would also be greatly appreciated.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You did a superb job, nurseforpreggers.

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yes, nurseforpreggers, it is a wonderful list! and it is printed out over there on my table for me to use as a study guide/"cheat sheet" to work on before my orientation starts... thank you very much!

SBE, thanks for the ephedrine run-down, I could not think of its use pertinent to L&D off the top of my head, because it's a drug I've never given before. Epi I know well, but that's 'cause I've been in the CCU for the past year.

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i'm learning a lot here.. thanks deb for explaining.

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always encountered demerol, pitocin, methergine.. (sometimes magnesium sulfate for eclamptic patient)

Stadol, Phenergan, Hemabate, Fentanyl

The list will vary, depending on where you work.

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yes, nurseforpreggers, it is a wonderful list! and it is printed out over there on my table for me to use as a study guide/"cheat sheet" to work on before my orientation starts... thank you very much!

SBE, thanks for the ephedrine run-down, I could not think of its use pertinent to L&D off the top of my head, because it's a drug I've never given before. Epi I know well, but that's 'cause I've been in the CCU for the past year.

At my place, only anesthesia gives ephedrine, as you would have to have them there if the B/P is low enough to need it.

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Specializes in L&D.

Ephedrine is used in OB because it is one of the few vasopressors that doesn't reduce uterine blood flow as it works.

In our hospital, our standing anesthesia orders give the dose of Ephedrine to be given for what BP: 5mg for

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Specializes in CV Surgery Step-down.
Ephedrine is a vasopressor (used to raise the blood pressure) ----in OB , usually this need may arise when a woman's blood pressure precipitiously drops in response to regional anesthesia adminstration (epidural, intrathecal, spinal). A drop in blood pressure is fairly common and most practioners have epi drawn up and ready "just in case". Our MDAs are very good at drawing up and labeling syringes for us in case we need them suddenly.

Hope these help.

Thank's for the info SBE! I was able to "pull this one out of my hat" in clinicals today. Instructor: "Why do you think an order was written for ephedrine?" Smiling, I paraphrased your statement above! I don't think I would have known if I hadn't read it last night!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

*smile* glad to help.

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