Pushing Code/Emergent Drugs

[jk2185, BSN, RN]

Here's the question...

Are there times in emergencies when you still push drugs over 2 minutes?

Like during a code: Epi always seems to be pushed as fast as possible, but what about the Amiodarone 300mg dead dose? What about Calcium or BiCarb? or Mag?

During RSI: I've heard two ways of giving RSI drugs. Get a running NS line flowing to gravity and push your Propofol/Rocc or Succs or whatever through the Y-site or just push them directly into the IV site. I've seen more of the latter. Can't say I've ever seen somebody push Propofol through a Y-site.

Same question goes for these drugs too. I've given Roc a few times and pushed it over a minute which seemed to anger the impatient pulmonologist before a bronch....

It would be nice if you kind nurses out there can fill me in on which drugs are out there that you know can be pushed rather quickly....and please only speak out of experience.

Thanks!

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

WKShadow, nails it,

i concur

[pluckyduck, MSN, NP]

In our trauma room we always have 0.9 NS bags spiked and ready to go, with primary tubing attached to a saline lock so once we establish a line, we can hook them up and run drugs, and you have that extra benefit of running saline. However, in a code or RSI, we push fast (with or without saline, as long as they have a lock) because if we're doing CPR it's not like they're getting any worse, and in RSI, you have to push those drugs fast as they have an extremely short half life and onset of action--you don't want a patient to become unparalyzed as you're trying to intubate.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Drop the hammer on that syringe and get them in!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

What would be the benefit of pushing an ACLS (read: life-threatenting emergency) drug slowly?

Another vote here for pushing fast/they won't get deader.