Published Jun 9, 2005
FirePup
44 Posts
I just got off the phone with a nurse recruiter (I grad. in Aug.) and she mentioned that I know what "vasoactive infusions" are....anybody want to help me out....I googled it, but didn't find anything that helped me out.
Thanks in advance! :)
CougRN
422 Posts
There are a number of them. Neosynephrine, Ephedrine, Epinephrine, Nitroprusside, Nitroglycerine. Are you interviewing for an ICU position? Most of these drugs aren't used on med/surg. If you are interviewing for ICU you should have a basic working knowledge of the drugs and will learn a lot more about them in the unit.
it will be for a cardiac step-down unit...will they still be using these? any more suggestions of what to look up or know would be great!
pricklypear
1,060 Posts
On a cardiac step-down you are likely to see Dopamine (which is inatropic as well as vasoactive) Pitressin (vasopressin) may also be used. Some step teles may use nitro. Just depends on the institution. There a numerous other cardiac drugs that you are likely to see that are classified as something other than vasoactive.
begalli
1,277 Posts
I concur with pricklypear for cardiac step-downs. The RN's on our step-down do not titrate the drugs but we do occasionally-rarely send patients out to the step-down with nitro or dopamine. I've never personally seen anyone go out on vasopressin.