Page 430 - Critical Care Nursing Demystified

Chapter 9 CARE OF THE PATIENT WITH CRITICAL HEMATOLOGIC NEEDS 415

5 TABLE 9–5 Medications That Can Be Used in Hematologic Needs (Continued)

Medication Action Uses Precautions
Epinephrine Pure catecholamine First-line drug 1. Continuous cardiac
that increases used in cardiac monitoring is
cardiac contractions arrest due to needed to see
and increases shock HR increases
systemic vascular May also be 2. Given as IV push in
resistance used in an arrest. Infusion
hypotensive may be prepared via
episodes due pump
to septic 3. Assess VS frequently
shock during initiation and
during infusion
4. Destroyed in
alkaline solutions
like bicarbonate, so
use separate line for
infusion
5. Check label as comes
in varying solutions
Epoetin alfa RBC stimulator Used in 1. Contraindicated in Downloaded by [ Faculty of Nursing, Chiangmai University 5.62.158.117] at [07/18/16]. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Global Education Holdings, LLC. Not to be redistributed or modified in any way without permission.
(Epogen) chronic renal patients with HTN
failure to 2. Mostly central
prevent nervous system
anemia adverse effects:
Used for headache, fatigue,
chemotherapy- and dizziness
induced 3. If dose does not
anemia give the response
(elevation in RBCs,
Hct) discontinue
the drug. The patient
may have RBC
aplasia from the
medication
neutralizing
antibodies