Help with common drugs used on a Tele unit...

Specialties Cardiac

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I was hoping that some of you would share your experience with me. I'm a new grad going to work on a Tele unit. I would like to make some pocket cards of farely common drugs that I will be giving so that I can become familiar with them. I'm trying to come up with a good list of need to know drugs. Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks for your time!!

Jenni

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I work on a Step-down unit at night:

Here's a list of meds I give alot (PO, IV, SQ, SL, and topical).

Lopressor, Coreg, Betapace, Cardizem, Digoxin, Tambacor, Rhythmol, Pravachol, Lipitor, Vytorin, Crestor, Zocor, Zetia, Niaspan, ASA, Lasix, K+,

Dobutamine, Dopamine, Heparin, Insulin, Lovenox, Nitroglycerin, Morphine, Natrecor, Cordarone, Capoten, Vasotec, Monopril, Lisinopril, Altace, Diovan, Clonidine, Atenolol, Norvasc, Plavix, Apresoline, Bumex, Demadex, Labetalol, Darvocet, Demerol, Phenergan, Zofran, Restoril, Ambien, Dalmane, Pepcid, Imdur, Valium, Ativan

Hope that helps in some way. :)

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I work on a Step-down unit at night:

Here's a list of meds I give alot (PO, IV, SQ, SL, and topical).

Lopressor, Coreg, Betapace, Cardizem, Digoxin, Tambacor, Rhythmol, Pravachol, Lipitor, Vytorin, Crestor, Zocor, Zetia, Niaspan, ASA, Lasix, K+,

Dobutamine, Dopamine, Heparin, Insulin, Lovenox, Nitroglycerin, Morphine, Natrecor, Cordarone, Capoten, Vasotec, Monopril, Lisinopril, Altace, Diovan, Clonidine, Atenolol, Norvasc, Plavix, Apresoline, Bumex, Demadex, Labetalol, Darvocet, Demerol, Phenergan, Zofran, Restoril, Ambien, Dalmane, Pepcid, Imdur, Valium, Ativan

Hope that helps in some way. :)

Thank you so much! I've been orienting for three days this week because my preceptor is on a mission trip. I will start getting to do more when she returns, and she likes to give quizzes. I'm trying to get prepared! This helps tremendously!

:)

Jenni

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Make cards for the drugs you encounter as well. Keep a blank index card and write the drug's name down to make a card for later.

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Also don't be afraid to admit you don't know something about a drug, just offer to go and find out (so have a drug book or know where one is kept on your unit) because you can never know everything about all the drugs that you will give.

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Specializes in PCCN.

also, in addition to knowing the effects and type of cardiac meds you are giving , always know your pts b/p and pulse and rhythm (tele floor) before giving. I had a pt whose pressures usually ran in the 140's/50's, and his am vs were asymptomatic b/p 92/50, pulse of 61. Ran it by the doc- pt ok, but hold med. I didn't want to dump his pressure if I gave the med at that time. Usually pts on digoxin also require a 1 min apical pulse too. Good luck in your studies. jr

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I was hoping that some of you would share your experience with me. I'm a new grad going to work on a Tele unit. I would like to make some pocket cards of farely common drugs that I will be giving so that I can become familiar with them. I'm trying to come up with a good list of need to know drugs. Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks for your time!!

Jenni

If you have or can obtain a decent PDA there is a program called A to Z drugs for the Palm that is very, very good. I have that and 2 other pharm references on my PDA. If you goto www.skyscape.com you can look and see what they have. Its nice to be able to have a thorough reference in your pocket (much more info than could fit on notecards).

Mike

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Specializes in Cardiac, Post Anesthesia, ICU, ER.

I think a good place to start is with "Drug Classification," and then learn which are the most aggressive/potent. Something like this:

Beta Blockers: Lopressor (Metoprolol) Coreg, Betapace (Sotalol), Toprol (cont. dose Metoprolol), Normodyne (Labetolol), Tenormin (Atenolol). (-olol endings are generally Beta Blockers.

Calcium Ch. Blockers - Cardizem, Verapamil, Norvasc.

ACE Inhibitors - Vasotec (Enalapril), Lisinopril,

Nitrates - Imdur (Isosorbate Mononitrate), Isordil (Isosorbids Dinitrate) Ismo, etc.

Good Luck,

Doug

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Specializes in Cardio.

I am a new nurse. Working less than a year & started in tele in April. I am still confused about when to hold some BP meds. When I have a patient with a low BP, I always ask the charge nurse which to hold, if I have more than one BP med to give, which is usually the case. I usually end up holding the Lisinopril & giving the other med, such as, Coreg or Captopril. I spent some time reading up on the BP meds yesterday & will again today but I still can't find the reason to hold one & not the others. Is it due to the half life or different categories? Captopril & Lisinopril are both Ace inhibitors. Why hold one & not the other? Why not hold both when I have a BP of 90/60. I also don't know why the half-life would matter, because it would still affect the BP.

Any help would be appreciated. I can't keep going to my charge nurse, but I don't want to make a mistake either. I need to understand the reasoning behind holding specific BP meds & not the others.

Thank you.

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Sometimes beta blockers are given, especially in a half dose, to prevent Afib, even if the pt. has a low BP.

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Specializes in MSc in Anesthetics.
I think a good place to start is with "Drug Classification," and then learn which are the most aggressive/potent. Something like this:

Beta Blockers: Lopressor (Metoprolol) Coreg, Betapace (Sotalol), Toprol (cont. dose Metoprolol), Normodyne (Labetolol), Tenormin (Atenolol). (-olol endings are generally Beta Blockers.

Calcium Ch. Blockers - Cardizem, Verapamil, Norvasc.

ACE Inhibitors - Vasotec (Enalapril), Lisinopril,

Nitrates - Imdur (Isosorbate Mononitrate), Isordil (Isosorbids Dinitrate) Ismo, etc.

Good Luck,

Doug

very goood piece of advice. its important to know what classifications the drugs fall under.:wink2:

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