Back

ICU Pharmacology: Commonly Used Medications

This course is designed for nurse clinicians, intensive care unit nurses, and nurses caring for ventilated patients who administer vasoactive, sedative, and other medications in the ICU setting. The purpose of this course is to educate ICU nurses regarding the use of many different pharmacological agents, including best practices for administration and titration.

Questions? Check out our FAQs page and How Online IV Certification Works!

Objectives

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

List the pharmacology of various medications given in an ICU setting, such as sedatives, paralytics, pain medications, respiratory medications, and others.
Explain best practices for sedation titration in ventilated patients.
Identify safety and best practices for patients receiving medications for cardiovascular support.
Describe safe practices in the use of anticoagulants for blood clots and DVT prophylaxis.
Evaluate case scenarios that require pharmacology knowledge to provide safe patient care.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Introduction/Outline

Chapter 2: Sedation

Best Practice
Propofol
Dexmetomidine
Midazolam

Chapter 3: Paralytics

Indications
Evidence Review
Implications for Practice

Chapter 4: Pain Medications

Opioids
Opioid Receptor Antagonist

Chapter 5: Antimicrobials

Best Practice

Chapter 6: Respiratory

Albuterol

Chapter 7: PUD Prophylaxis

Best Practice

Chapter 8: Cardiovascular

Beta-blockers
Milrinone
Vasoactive medication
- Dopamine
- Phenylephrine
- Norepinephrine
- Vasopressin

Chapter 9: Anticoagulants

Heparin
- Best Practice
V. Anticoagulant use in CVA
W. DVT Prophylaxis

Chapter 10: Diuretics

Chapter 11: Case Scenario 1

Chapter 12: Case Scenario 2

Chapter 13: Conclusion

References
California Bill 241
Implicit Bias in Healthcare
What is Implicit Bias?
Implications of Implicit Bias in Healthcare
How to Reduce Implicit Bias

Price: $24.00

Contact Hours: 2

Course Author

HTRSD.org

HTRSD is a provider of continuing education training focused on human trafficking and other social disparities for health care providers, as well as courses that address nurses' health and well-being and under-served topics in advanced critical care.

Read Full Bio

Course Accreditation

See our Accreditation Statements page to view our accreditation information.