Author Archive
Children and PALS
Posted by: | CommentsMost parents are aware that children can get into anything relatively “QUICK” before you can even blink an eye. They are extremely curious and once they are walking on their own, look out, because they tend to rummage through everything they can reach. It seems that even things that can taste so terrible, toddlers still place things in their mouths and swallow them. If you are a health care professional and provide care to the pediatric population, consider a PALS certification and become certified in advance techniques that can save a child’s life.
Medication Safety
Posted by: | CommentsEducating children are always a great idea too. But if the child is not able to comprehend the importance, for instance a 1 or 2 year old, then you will be the one that has to take precautions to keep them safe from medication that is intended for an adult. To small children some of the medications may appear to be like candy and therefore is very tempting for the child to consume. If at anytime you suspect that a child has taken medication that belongs to someone else or an adult, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Physicians and nurses in the emergency room have also been trained from attending a PALS course that provides much needed knowledge to save a child’s life.
AHA PALS Course
Posted by: | CommentsWhen it comes to medication safety, it is best to keep the bottles out of reach and preferably have a cap that locks when placed back on the bottle. There are many devices that are available today that can secure cabinet doors. Do not put medications in a purse that does not have a cap that is locked. The containers that provide 7 days of medications should never be within a child’s reach. The majority of the time these will have numerous medications in each compartment and a child definitely does not need to ingest the different types and quantities of medicine. If you ever suspect that a child has taken any medication that is prescribed to an adult it is best to call 911, as the paramedics have been trained in providing life saving measures that were taught in a PALS course and they are required to be certified.
How To Care For an Unconscious Adult
Posted by: | CommentsToday it seems that there are more people out and about than many years ago. Shopping, working, increase in traffic, etc. Would you know what to do if a person were suddenly unconscious right before your eyes? There are many medical television shows that are real and portrayed, and they are trying to save lives. The medical community for the last few years has been raising awareness about people attending a CPR course and becoming certified.
The CPR course will help you in providing life saving measures for a person that becomes unconscious. An unconscious person is in dire need of intervention for respiratory support or cardiology support or both. It may be a victim of a drowning that needs respiratory support. It may be a person that is suffering a major heart attack that needs chest compressions and respiration.
For an adult that becomes unconscious, always call 911. After shaking the person’s arm and shouting “Hey are you OK”, and they do not respond, place your head close to the nose and look at the chest for rise and fall, and feel with the side of your face for any air that may be coming from their nose or mouth. Then feel for a pulse. It is recommended to check the carotid artery, located just across from the Adam apple of the throat. If no pulse is felt and there is no respiration, you will need to start CPR. It is important to take a CPR course to enhance your knowledge and techniques of CPR. You will learn to use an AED, that is able to analyze heart rhythms and shock if needed, until paramedics arrive.
Medical Professional
Posted by: | CommentsAs a medical professional it is our duty to educate the patient and family members about the medications they are receiving. Especially what the medication is used for, how it will benefit them, and signs and symptoms to report. Most importantly the patient should notify the nurse or physician when they are experiencing an allergic reaction to any medication. Symptoms to report are swelling of the mouth, lips or throat, itching, skin rash or difficulty breathing. The medical professional should follow hospital protocol for anaphylactic reactions. One of the side effects that the patient should know about when receiving Nitroglycerin is that they will experience a headache. If the physician orders Tylenol or pain medication, the patient may receive it to help with the headache. If the patient is aware that this medication will cause a headache, they are less likely to be anxious when starting the medication. The headache is caused by the vasodilation effect of the Nitroglycerin.
Knowing how Nitroglycerin works in the body, decreasing preload and after load, dilating the arteries in the body, etc. It is plain and clear to see why Nitroglycerin should NEVER be used DURING Cardiac Arrest. Everyday in the medical profession we are ever learning new things and that drugs can be used for multiple conditions. If you are ever unfamiliar with the medicine, take the time to know it’s properties and how it could or could not be beneficial to the condition.
Blood Pressure
Posted by: | CommentsWhen using Nitroglycerin IV, it is important to monitor ECG, Blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, MAP, and document how the patient is or is not tolerating Nitroglycerin and the effects of the titration. Anytime there is a change in the drip rate, always document the current drip rate in mcg/min and the ml/hr, and what the changed drip rate will be whether up or down and why you changed the drip rate of Nitroglycerin. Document vital signs and ECG rhythm and what occurred for the rate to increase or decrease. For example, patient has chest pain 8 out of 10 on the pain scale, “crushing, stabbing, sharp pain in middle of chest, Nitroglycerin drip currently at 10mcg/min, will increase to 20mcg/min and re-assess pain level, vital signs stable, heart rate 78, Sinus Rhythm with first degree block, no ectopy noted. The ACLS certification course offers different scenarios to help increase the knowledge of medical professionals during emergency situations dealing with the heart.
Medication
Posted by: | CommentsIn reviewing the medication section for the Asystole algorithm, Nitroglycerin IV is NOT even mentioned or added to this arrhythmia. Nitroglycerin is an Anti-anginal and Nitrate. Nitroglycerin relaxes vascular smooth muscle with a resultant decrease in venous return and decrease in aterial blood pressure, which reduces left ventricular workload and decreases myocardial oxygen consumption per Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Guide 2003. Nitroglycerin is indicated for angina, CHF and PALS that is associated with a myocardial infarction, perioperative hypertension and to produce controlled hypertension during surgery. Nitroglycerin vaso-dilates the vessels and blood is able to flow easier especially patients that have coronary artery disease and are symptomatic with chest pain/discomfort. Titration is used for comfort and based on stable vital signs. Nitroglycerin IV is titrated using MCG/MIN. Follow physician orders when starting the Nitroglycerin drip.
No Pulse
Posted by: | CommentsCardiac Arrest is asystole, which is absence of systole, failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation), a person loses consciousness, has no pulse, no blood pressure. The heart is not functioning at all. When the heart has stopped beating and pumping blood to the organs the person is dying and without proper intervention including the correct choice of medications to aid with CPR, this person will surely die. A person may still die when cardiac arrest has occurred, especially if reversible causes are not corrected. It is important for licensed medical professionals to consider an ACLS course to stay up to date with appropriate interventions following the algorithms approved by the American Heart Association.
Chest Pain | NTG
Posted by: | CommentsLet’s take a closer look at Nitroglycerin and what it is used for and then you will never consider using Nitroglycerin during a cardiac arrest. The key word here is… DURING. Not post cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association makes recommendations and approves medications based on data that has been researched and proven to be effective for certain types of heart arrhythmias. As a health care professional in the ER, ICU, PACU, or OR, it is our responsibility to stay current on medications that are used for different medical conditions. Let’s review what Cardiac Arrest is.
Education for CPR
Posted by: | CommentsEducating children are always a great idea too. But if the child is not able to comprehend the importance, for instance a 1 or 2 year old, then you will be the one that has to take precautions to keep them safe from medication that is intended for an adult. To small children some of the medications may appear to be like candy and therefore is very tempting for the child to consume. If at anytime you suspect that a child has taken medication that belongs to someone else or an adult, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Physicians and nurses in the emergency room have also been trained from attending a PALS course that provides much needed knowledge to save a child’s life.
DeKalb/Peachtree, GA
