ED - Common Meds

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hello!

I have been precepting in a TICU, but next week I will go to the ED for 24hrs. My preceptor in the ED seems to be pretty serious (compared to the prev one), and when I asked him what I should "brush-up" on, he told me that I need to be on target with Dosage Calc, bc if there's a Code he always has his students push the meds - so I better be able to calc ci 30 secs....

Well I've tried to find a general list of common meds used - but I don't have a Critical Care Text, and I don't want to spend $100 on one....

I would really appreciate if any of you could share some of your knowledge with me!! I know how to do Dosage Calc, I just want to be prepared in knowing what common doses, drugs etc are.

THANKS!!! :up:

- Misty

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

well, too much to cover... are you ACLS? if so you know the basic drugs and doses...

you question is too broad, all ER's are different and many are sectioned out with main, chest pain, trauma and peds.

as you can imagine the drugs and the what not varies exponentially here. If you can give more info it will help, but heres the basics

chest pain- 02, line, labs, asa, ntg sl, morphine, ekg ckr, monitor

abd pain-npo, line, labs detailed hx wait on doc-give basin

seizures-LINE-HOB up, suction set up if not seizing wait for doc.

asthma attack-line, call rt, monitor and don't sweat it yet

code-no you don't push drugs, you compress, watch and listen

DKA- line, labs, npo, basin (they'll puke) and learn anion gap and electrolyte swapping

chf-o2 call rt (use bipap), nitg dripp, morphine, lasix

AMI and stroke-look at thrombolytic protocols, never, never give thrombolytics until your stroke has cleared for a bleed in a stroke

mva-never remove the c-collar without a written order, let the MD asses and do it and no they can't get up to pee.

Peds are usually respiratory, many respiratory adults so look up you meds here.

hope this helps

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Specializes in SICU, NICU, CCU, CIC, ICU, MICU.

You can always just say "I don't know" If your preceptor has a problem with that answer then he shouldnt be your preceptor.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Yes - TOO BROAD, I know.... That's how I feel.

I'm precepting for school, so I'm not ACLS, but I want to have at least a basic idea. I've never been in an ED at all, so my experience is 0!

I just happened to talk this Charge Nurse into precepting me for the two days - I'm sure that I will be saying "I don't know" a lot!!

I guess I just really want to get the most out of the two-days, and the ED is something that I'm really interested in, so I was trying to review some Cardiac Meds, EKG's etc. This is a Trauma 1 hosp. so I just want to have some idea about what's going on, and what some of the main drugs are that are being used. As well as not look foolish when I have no clue about the basic/common formula's being used.

:yeah: ZOO - thanks for the info, I really appreciate it!! Very on Target with what I need to know!!

Anymore advice/info is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks Guys!!

- Misty

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Specializes in Paeds, Maternity, Medical & A&E.
well, too much to cover... are you ACLS? if so you know the basic drugs and doses...

you question is too broad, all ER's are different and many are sectioned out with main, chest pain, trauma and peds.

as you can imagine the drugs and the what not varies exponentially here. If you can give more info it will help, but heres the basics

chest pain- 02, line, labs, asa, ntg sl, morphine, ekg ckr, monitor

abd pain-npo, line, labs detailed hx wait on doc-give basin

seizures-LINE-HOB up, suction set up if not seizing wait for doc.

asthma attack-line, call rt, monitor and don't sweat it yet

code-no you don't push drugs, you compress, watch and listen

DKA- line, labs, npo, basin (they'll puke) and learn anion gap and electrolyte swapping

chf-o2 call rt (use bipap), nitg dripp, morphine, lasix

AMI and stroke-look at thrombolytic protocols, never, never give thrombolytics until your stroke has cleared for a bleed in a stroke

mva-never remove the c-collar without a written order, let the MD asses and do it and no they can't get up to pee.

Peds are usually respiratory, many respiratory adults so look up you meds here.

hope this helps

HI

You have summed that up so well. Nursing is basically the same world wide by the looks have it writing so that cant recant

Vamparee

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Specializes in CCU.

Zookeeper3,

you mention in your nice list:

code-no you don't push drugs, you compress, watch and listen

You mean to tell me that in a code you do not push emergency drugs?

You are not allowed in CCU?Don't you guys have standards for codes and like us: Atropine for symptomatic bradycardia...

I just don't want to give drugs in Canada like I am here as a standard.

Thanks for the tip!

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Specializes in CCU.

Oops! I thought I was still in the international posts.

But still, you are not allowed to push the emergency meds in the code? Explain please.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

But still, you are not allowed to push the emergency meds in the code? Explain please.

Err, out here in Cali we students don't push meds during a code because one could kill the pt without proper training and experience in use of these meds. Vasoactive drugs are serious stuff.

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Specializes in CCU.

Oh Dear! I must have been dreaming!:smokin:

I misunderstood that you were talking about the students in specific to pushing the drugs. Now, I got it!

Althought, I heard that :banghead:in Canada got demoted for giving starting CPR in the hospital on the patient the RN felt no pulse! Apparently, she was supposed to wait for the MD!

That's got to be an urban tale!

Thanks for understanding my misunderstanding!:D

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CTICU.
Err, out here in Cali we students don't push meds during a code because one could kill the pt without proper training and experience in use of these meds. Vasoactive drugs are serious stuff.

Nursing students not pushing any meds during codes has always baffled me... when is a better time to first push epi / atropine etc than on an apneic / pulseless asystolic patient? worst case scenario is no change :(

I'm not condoning students pushing all meds (ie Lopressor IV), but a code seems like a good learning opportunity esp with a few minutes between doses to discuss pharmacodynamics :yawn: lol

For instance, paramedic students are required to start IV's, and document successful administration of meds by ET, IV, IM, SQ, SL, IO, nebulizer... seems like a more logical manner to hit the ground running once fully licensed.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Nursing students not pushing any meds during codes has always baffled me... when is a better time to first push epi / atropine etc than on an apneic / pulseless asystolic patient? worst case scenario is no change :(

I'm not condoning students pushing all meds (ie Lopressor IV), but a code seems like a good learning opportunity esp with a few minutes between doses to discuss pharmacodynamics :yawn: lol

For instance, paramedic students are required to start IV's, and document successful administration of meds by ET, IV, IM, SQ, SL, IO, nebulizer... seems like a more logical manner to hit the ground running once fully licensed.

I would guess it's a liability issue and this protects the students as well as the patient. After all, who knows how the patient got to the point where CPR was necessary.

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We were able to give IV push meds during out preceptorship (last semester) provided a licensed RN was present. But I think that it varied depending upon which hospital you were precepting at.

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