new ct icu nurse needs help with drugs

[nmidas]

Sorry for any misspellings I'm typing this on my iPhone while on break from class...

And I have looked thru some of the posts concerning CVICU help and they too are kind of scattered- but not really the answers I'm looking for.

bkgd:

I am going thru internship right now in a cardio thoracic icu. I feel like an idiot despite making notecards, reading perioperatove cardio surgery/ care chapters, reviewing in class, preceptor instruction. I can't get this stuff down. My preceptor wants me to know this stuff yesterday, I'm in an internship with 40 people, so small groups are few and far between ...

I hate complaining- I need to be even more proactive in learning this stuff. Does anyone have info on aides (short cuts are ok but I want to learn this stuff forward and backwards)- anyvideos DVDs, online tutoring, etc that I can do? I mean would something like CCRN review courses kind of narrow down and explain much of this stuff? I think I'm also having an info overload- so many diff sources of info that they dont necessarily agree- so I need something like an ICU drug book for dummies lol (which I think is truly paradoxical) simple at first then adds complexity.

I really need help on this- if I can get drugs down it will give me extra confidence in my internship / practice. Thank you for any help you all can give!!!

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

If you look at the top of the CCU forum, there is a post with TONS of links with "Helpful Information for the CCU"........... many many wonderful websites that can help. One of the best is icufaqs

Good luck!

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

Check out my thread titled "Vasoactive drug table". There is a great PDF format education packet that explains hemodynamics very simply and has all the drugs listed, with tables showing what the action is on the hemodynamic status of the patient. I made a comprehensive drug guide based on that article but am still working on some changes so I can upload it here.

Go print and read that packet when you get a chance. It really helped me! Also, I hear Kathy White's ICU book is a good resource, it is pocket size and has a lot of info. Mine's coming in the mail :)