New ICU nurse? What to know...

Hello! I'm back, how are you doing?
So, I started working in the ICU a few months ago. I was oriented to different critical care units but ultimately landed to MSICU.

As a new ICU nurse what did I do to prepare for my shifts in ICU?

1. Research what's going on in ICU.

          - What are the common MEDICATIONS that they give in ICU?
Sedatives:
         1. Propofol (Diprivan) DRIP- a sedative drug that is usually used to sedate patients who are                      intubated due to  different diagnosis such as ARDS, Sepsis with respiratory failure, etc.
              Common side effects
                      so what are you going to watch out for?
                           1. Bradycardia
                           2. Hypotension
                           3. PROPOFOL INFUSION SYNDROME (this screams CODE BLUE!)
          What else to remember:
                           1. DO NOT START PROPOFOL IF YOUR PATIENT IS NOT INTUBATED!
                                      -This is a fast acting sedative that will depress respiratory drive all the way to                                         zero when started so be aware of this.
         2. Precedex (Dexmetomidine) DRIP- a sedative drug that is usually used to sedate patients who              are very combative and are interfering with their treatments due to metabolic and          
             psychological manifestations ie: metabolic encepalopathy
                Common side effects
                           1. Bradycardia
                           2. Hypotension
              What else to remember:
                           1. Precedex can be administered to patients who are not intubated.
            
              3. Fentanyl Citrate- another popular sedative in the ICU that has ANALGESIA effect.                             Remember a sedative like Precedex and Propofol DO NOT HAVE ANALGESIA effects.
                       Common side effects
                           1. Bradycardia
                           2. Hypotension
            What else to remember:
                           1 Can be given IV pushes instead of a straight out IV drip
Vasopressors: 
              1. Levophed

I will add more  drugs next time!
Always remember to check your hospital's ICU protocols when administering these medications!
PS: All of these information are based from my experiences working in ICU. If readers have more to add please share. Thanks!
  

After a long time of thinking about what to do with my free time during days off, I have decided to start blogging. Blogging about my nursing career and sharing to all the wonderful nurses out there my experiences in nursing especially in terms of knowledge and just overall tips on how to overcome the challenges of being a nurse. I would also like to read about what other nurses have to say especially those who are more experienced than me and to those who are still beginning their journey. Cheers to nursing!