Which pocket reference for a telemetry nurse would you recommend?

[Irock]

I'm looking for a pocket reference for tele nurses. I'm a fairly new grad, and I work in a tele/step-down unit. I wanted something with the most commonly-referred to info for cardiac meds, labs, etc. What do you recommended? (BTW, I prefer the ones that have spiral at the top (vs the side), but of course content is what matters most). I know there are lots of them out there, but I wanted input from someone who uses one and knows which ones they like.

Thanks!

[guest83140]

If you don't get a reply from others here, try the telemetry or cardiac nurse specialty area. Or do what I do, go to bookstore review websites.

[anonymurse]

I bought lots of books, but the most relevant info was given to me by fellow nurses, because whereas the books will give you useful facts, your coworkers will give you patterns of facts to watch out for, and will teach you how to think your way through multifactorial problems. Also, learning facts as parts of larger pictures will make the facts much easier to remember than trying to memorize a bucketful of unrelated facts. Better to keep your head up and your gaze broad than bury your nose in a book.

[Irock]

Uhhh...wasn't going to bury my nose in a book. Just wanted a quick reference for drugs, labs, etc.

[lckrn2pa]

Years ago when I was a new grad ER nurse I carried porters pocket guide to critical care. Got me through a few pedi codes back in the day. American heart has a good acls type guide also. Most any bookstore will have them in the medical ref section too.