HELP!!! with ACLS Drugs!

Town & Country · Jan 28, 2005

Well I don't really know, because I didn't know what to expect.

It was just hard. And now it's a "kinder, gentler" ACLS experience than what they USED TO HAVE! OMG :uhoh21: I don't see how ANYONE got ACLS certified in the past - it used to be way tougher than it is now!!!

Glad I didn't try back then! LOL

MarcusKspn · Jan 28, 2005

I always liked NAVEL to remember drugs that can can down an ET Tube
Narcan
Atropine
Valium
Epi
Lidocaine
Of course, things may have changed since I last certified last year!Good luck.
Just remember the basics: Atropine SPEEDS up the heart etc...
ABC's of course
Basic heart arrythmias and normals

When I did ACLS this week they taught me ALONE

Atropine

Lidocaine

Oxygen

Narcan

Epi

thanatos · Jan 28, 2005

When I did ACLS this week they taught me ALONE
Atropine
Lidocaine
Oxygen
Narcan
Epi

yup...valium is no longer recommended to be given via ETT.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jan 29, 2005

Chris,
This sounds like a great idea.
Would you be willing to share a typical flash card with us for one of the ACLS drugs so we can get an idea of how you would lay the information out? That would be very helpful if you have time. I just want to see how you do one of them, so that I can set mine up in a similar fashion. THanks, Stephanie

Hi, Stephanie, I can only tell you how I would do it. You can (and probably should) create your own format and then use that for each drug you want to learn.

I would start with the generic name, followed by all the brand names. Next, indications, contraindications, actions and side effects. Typical dose or method of calculating the typical dose.

Keep it as simple as you can--at first you will be tempted to put in every little niggling detail. Then you will notice "I know some of this, I don't have to write it all down." Then you'll get where you have just a few notes, you don't have to check to see what to write next.

That's when you know you really know them.

Have fun!

veetach · Jan 29, 2005

learn the acronyms

for example: when I first took ACLS about 6 times ago, we had acronyms for lots of the stuff... symptomatic Bradycardia=a trip down every Isle. (atropine, transcutaneous pacing, dopamine, epinephrine, Isoproteronal)

meds down the tube used to be ONAVEL (Oxygen, narcan, atropine, valium, epi and lidocaine)and now its something else, I forget. LOLOLOl PEA=push epi and atropine, and of course the shock, shock, shock, everybody (epi) shock, littlem(lido/amio) shock, big (bretyllium-forget this we dont use it any more) shock, everybody shock. ON second thought dont let me confuse you :chuckle

ACLS is not pass fail anymore, I am sure many people have already told you that. Dont freak, pay attention and take not when your instructor says "this is important and you might need to know it for the test"

good luck!

veetach · Jan 29, 2005

When I did ACLS this week they taught me ALONE
Atropine
Lidocaine
Oxygen
Narcan
Epi

Valium has been removed from the list of drugs to give down the tube...

CEN35 · Jan 29, 2005

usually they don't cover "everything", usually the more common. Once you have used them and been around them enough, it's all second nature!

You will do fine!!

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Jan 30, 2005

I know you have already taken and passed the class but for others who may be reading this now and going to take ACLS in the future- take your like algorithm cards, EMS/ER guide book, PDA with ACLS info in with you. You are allowed to use them. You are also allowed to use your partners as reference ie we did the megacode as a group just last month. AHA looks at it from the view your not going to be running a code in a vaccumn, the exception being a paramedic with a EMT-B partner--but even then you are in contact with medical control.

RJ

ManEnough · Jan 30, 2005

I know you have already taken and passed the class but for others who may be reading this now and going to take ACLS in the future- take your like algorithm cards, EMS/ER guide book, PDA with ACLS info in with you. You are allowed to use them. You are also allowed to use your partners as reference ie we did the megacode as a group just last month. AHA looks at it from the view your not going to be running a code in a vaccumn, the exception being a paramedic with a EMT-B partner--but even then you are in contact with medical control.
RJ

Thanks for pointing this out. When I took ACLS the first time I was so overwhelmed by all the information. And all those catchy phrases and abbreviations are not nearly as useful as one might think. Unless you're Rain Man I have no idea how you can possibly keep that much information in your brain to be readily utilized, never mind during the chaos of a code!

I memorized what to do for a mega code and have a fairly good idea of what to do during most others. I carry my ACLS cards on me at all times at work and would not hesitate to pull them out and use them if I was at a loss for what to do. I'd rather look stupid than give the wrong drug.

When people take ACLS for the first time I advise them to have a general understanding of everything but be realistic about how much you can memorize in a short period of time. People forget the "final exam" is open book. :)

EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2005

Wouldn't you want to give atropine and epiniphrine almost simultaneously to get the most bang for you buck? Since atropine speeds up the refractory period of the AV node and epiniphrine increases the contractility of the heart? What are the best drugs to restore level of conciousness? Narcan, TPA, diuretic, what?

CEN35 · Jan 30, 2005

Wouldn't you want to give atropine and epiniphrine almost simultaneously to get the most bang for you buck? Since atropine speeds up the refractory period of the AV node and epiniphrine increases the contractility of the heart? What are the best drugs to restore level of conciousness? Narcan, TPA, diuretic, what?

Bottom line, these are the guidelines set by the AHA. Theyre not set in concrete. The physician will run them how he thinks. Also at some point they will feel like calling it (tod), and sometimes at that point they will give things that maybe arent' called for. Like MG+, or CA+CL- as last rsorts in case of Ca+ channel blocker use, or possibly their mag is down or something?

I think when it goes on long enough, they will let you try anything if it seems futile. Ecspecially on a younger person without any major pathologic issues.

EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2005

Makes sense.