Return to nursing

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Hi there! I qualified in 2014 and worked three months in the OR before moving to another country. I had to start as a care assistant before my registration came through but I pretty much worked the work of a nurse minus the meds. Once my registration came through I started doing meds but on the floor I was on, a lot of the time the manager of nurse in charge of the shift did the meds. I did do my own meds sometimes, and sometimes the meds for the whole floor, but I was always promoted to do them as the default on that floor was that the manager/nurse in charge did them. I took a year off for personal reasons and am returning to nursing in July/August. My last ward, and the ward I will be returning to are both cardiac wards. I am looking for advice on how to make my return as smooth as it could be, and also on what I should study/brush up on before I return. Meds are one thing I am nervous about for sure, but also just everything in general really! Any help would be appreciated!

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Specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

When I was in your shoes, I asked pretty much what you are asking and the AllNurses community responded with this. I saved it and give it to you:

Anticoagulants/antiplatelets:

Heparin

Lovenox

Coumadin (warfarin)

Bivalrudin

Aspirin

plavix (clopidogrel)

Blood pressure:

ACEi's- captopril, lisinopril, enalapril

ARB's- losartan, valsartan

Other heart meds

Beta-blockers (olol)- labetolol, carvedilol, atenolol, propranolol

Calcium channel blockers- verapamil, nifedepine, amlodipine, nicardipine, diltiazem

Vadodilators- nitroglycerin, nitroprusside

Pressors- Dopamine, dobutamine, norepinephrine

Statins- atorvastatin, rosuvastatin

Fibrates- finofibrate

Cholesterol binders- ezetimbe, cholestyramine

Lung meds

Albuterol, salmeterol

Ipratropium, tiotropium

Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol combo)

Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol combo)

GI meds

Anti-acids H2 blockers- ranitidine, famotidine

Anti-acids PPIs- omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole

Bowel preps- mag citrate, polyethylene glycol

Constipation- docusate, senna, miralax, lactulose, enemas

Diarrhea- loperamide

antinausea- ondansetron, promethazine, prochlorperazine

Kidney meds

Diuretics- furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, acetazolamide, Bumex

Endocrine

Diabetes- metformin, insulin (lantus, aspart)

Thyroid- levothyroxine

Steroids (glucocorticoids)- prednisone dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisone,

GU meds

antispasmodics- oxybutinin, tolteridine (detrol) solifenacin (vesicare)

BPH meds- doxazosin, tamsulosin, finasteride

ED meds- sildenafil, tadalafil

Neuro

Alzheimers- donepezil (aricept)

Seizures- valproate, levetiracetame, phenytoin, topirimate

Benzos- lorazepam, diazepam,

Agitation- benzos (lorazepam, valium), haloperidol,

Pain meds

Opiates- oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, fentanyl

NSAIDs- ibuprofen, ketorolac

Other- trazodone, cyclobenzaprine, lidocaine patches

Headaches- fiorocet, sumatriptan, metoclopramide

Gout- allopurinol, colchicine

Psych meds and antibiotics are too numerous to name

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Thank you so much! I'll save it and study them before I start back! I appreciate it!

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