propofol

[jackieliz]

The news letter from the NM BON last month had a section regarding anesthesia drugs and the nurse practice act. Regarding propofol it stated that because propofol is an anesthetic agent, only those qualified to administer general anesthesia would be allowed to use it, this sounded nationwide. I work in a CV stepdown, but our CCU uses propofol all the time. Have any of you heard of this new restriction? I keep wondering if i misunderstood the newsletter, but I don't have it anymore.

[CarpeDiem2004]

I agree with jwk. In my institution, we use propofol on vented patients all the time. If it's going to be used for conscious sedation, it must be given by anesthesia or by an intensivist. It is a wonderful drug, but I've seen plenty of patients that need their respirations assisted after it's administration, and one that needed to be intubated. I, for one, am thankful that our nurses can't give it on non-vented patients.

[vivere]

i agree propofol is an awesome drug....we do sometimes use a tiny dose perhour in conscious patients monitoring for sedation closely, but more often at one hospital i work at, it is used on ventilator patients, very successfully, and it wears off rapidly.

[radblt]

Remember when Versed was not approved for use by RN's? Of course, I'm dating myself. Propofol in the ICU setting was just getting popular 10 years ago. Even then, in the intubated patient, some physicians were hesitant to use it. Now, it is steadily moving into the procedural settings-just as Versed did. Even so, at this time, Propofol in the procedural area has to be administered by an anesthesiologist or a CRNA. I believe that with time and education, Propofol will become more widely used than Versed. If one does deliver too much drug-turn it off and support ventilations. The half-life is extremely short and the drug will wear off quickly. Unlike Versed, esp if used with Fentanyl, which could last a couple of hours. Procedural clinics like Propofol because they can turn over patients much more quickly. I love Propofol! I have had a moderate sedation procedure with it-Good stuff!!