Most Frequently Used ED Meds

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Specializes in CVICU.

ED Nurses,

I have started my preceptorship in the ED, and wonder if you can tell me where to find a list (booklet, digital file, anything!) of the most frequently prescribed ED meds? It would help me a lot to review a concise list (Reglan, Solumedrol, etc...) along with purpose, common side-effects and so on.

Thank you!

:D

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Specializes in ER.
ED Nurses,

I have started my preceptorship in the ED, and wonder if you can tell me where to find a list (booklet, digital file, anything!) of the most frequently prescribed ED meds? It would help me a lot to review a concise list (Reglan, Solumedrol, etc...) along with purpose, common side-effects and so on.

Thank you!

:D

I don't know where to find a list, but here is a start.

Just a few...

Rocephin, Ancef, Lortab, Morphine, Dilaudid, Zofran, Zithromax, Phenergan, Demerol, Albuterol/Atrovent inhalers, Nitroglycerine, Lopressor, Retavase (and thrombolytics in general), Heparin, Lovenox, Dopamine, Nipride, Tetorifice, Clonidine, Haldol, Narcan, Versed, Fentanyl, Romazicon, Activated charcoal, Dilantin, Xanax, Ativan. I know there are many more, but these came to mind. Look up all the ACLS and PALS drugs, BP lowering meds, antibiotics in general, po, IM, IV.

You may want to make a quick list of IV antibiotics, how they are mixed and how fast to give them. This also varies somewhat by facility. Some are given on a pump, some gravity flow.

Having a PDA is very helpful. You can download Epocrates for free and it will give you names, dosages, route, frequency, useages, etc. Davis drug guide is about $50 and gives more nursing related stuff, but Epocrates will generally be enough.

You will give lots of meds, and you will not be expected to know everything about everything, but you do have to know where to go for the information, and that is the key. Good luck. And don't forget, you can always call the pharmacy, have their number memorized!

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Specializes in CVICU.
Just a few...

Rocephin, Ancef, Lortab, Morphine, Dilaudid, Zofran, Zithromax, Phenergan, Demerol, Albuterol/Atrovent inhalers, Nitroglycerine, Lopressor, Retavase (and thrombolytics in general), Heparin, Lovenox, Dopamine, Nipride, Clonidine, Haldol, Narcan, Versed, Fentanyl, Romazicon, Activated charcoal, Dilantin, Xanax, Ativan. I know there are many more, but these came to mind. Look up all the ACLS drugs, BP lowering meds, antibiotics in general, po, IM, IV...

Wow, that's a great start...thank you!

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Narcotics: Dilaudid, morphine, and demerol are the big ones we use.

Anti-emetics: phenergan, reglan, anzemet

Anti-anxiety: ativan and Xanax

Albuterol and atrovent nebulizers

Benadryl

Nitroglycerine in IV and SL forms

Dilantin

Antipsychotics: haldol, Zyprexa

Insulins, usually we use regular as our basic line

Lovenox

Antibiotics: you'll need to know the different classes, but Rocephin and Zithromax are very frequently used.

You'll need to know at least the different classes of bp meds also, since each doc seems to have a favorite

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

I'm going to add to the list already provided:

Narcs- Morphine, dilaudid, percocet

Anti-emetics- those listed, plus zofran

anxiety- ativan (also look up for use in seizures as well as valium)

Geodon for antipsych meds

Abx- Ancef, Unasyn, Cipro

Tetorifice toxoid

Cards drugs (Atropine, Adenosine, Nitro, Dopamine...- B/c you have have to give these meds whether you have ACLS or not)

Fentanyl[B][/b]

Prevacid, Pepcid, "GI cocktail" (donnatol, maaloz, lidocaine)

It really depends on your facility. There are drugs we use that others don't, vice versa. Depends on your suppliers and pharmacy

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma.

NTG, Heparin, Cardizem, ASA, Morphine, Phenergan, Rocephin, Dilaudid, Toradol, Lopressor, Labetalol, Dopamine, Levophed, Solumedrol, Pepcid, Levaquin, Charcoal, Amidate, Anectine, Adenocard, Atropine, Epi, Amiodarone, Regular insulin, Sodium Bicarb, Ativan, Haldol, Dilantin.

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I know you have already listed them...I think the med's I give the most are Morphine, Toradol, phenergine, dilaudid, ativan and lately reglan.

I also found that I need to really know my cardiac/acls drugs. Heperin, repro, and nitro drips are tricky for me. We have a book with dosage calculations all listed out, but I had an acute MI pt and would have felt far more competent without the book in my hand while hanging the drips...

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Did anyone say Nubain?

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Is Obecapl ever used or is that just a joke

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Is Obecapl ever used or is that just a joke

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

OK, fill us newbies in Tom. :)

Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Good thread folks!

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