High alert meds

[EDnurse1228]

I was wondering if nurses can share some medications they feel are considered high alert and percautions to take for us new grad nurses to help prevent errors.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

Potassium

Insulins

Narcotics

Chemotherapy

Heparins (and anti coagulants)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

The Institute of Safe Medication Practices has a list of high alert drugs on their website. www.ismp.org

[bendyprissy]

Not just high alert though. Don't forget the caustic meds like:

Phenergan & Toradol - make sure you dilute & push slow or it will burn like fire.

Lasix - if pushed faster than a turtle crawling then you can cause ototoxicity (even though turtles can crawl quite fast but you get the point.)

Vancomycin & Potassium infusions will burn in a hand/wrist IV and if not infused slow enough to be tolerable.

You'll use those a lot on M/S. Also don't forget to have the patients eat some crackers with the pain meds & antibiotics so you're not dealing with anti-nausea medication shortly thereafter. You'll learn these over time. I'm still learning.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Cardiac meds, and parameters! Know the patient's BP and pulse before you give them all 5 varieties of blood pressure meds they take at home. :)