Most
Commonly Used Drugs
in Nursing Specialties Source
Nurses are often required to float to units they’re
not accustomed to working in, where they might have to administer unfamiliar drugs. If you
know ahead of time which drugs are most commonly used in the various nursing specialties,
you’ll be able to acquaint yourself with these drugs-and reduce the chance of making
a drug error. The table below shows the 10 most commonly used drugs in nine nursing
specialties.
Specialty: Critical Care Nursing
- Amiodarone hydrochloride
- Diltiazem hydrochloride
- Dopamine hydrochloride
- Epinephrine hydrochloride
- Furosemide
- Insulin
- Lorazepam
- Metoprolol tartrate
- Morphine sulfate
- Nitroglycerin
Specialty: Emergency Care Nursing
- Acetaminophen
- Aspirin
- Diltiazem
- Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids
- Famotidine
- Ketorolac
- Ibuprofen
- Levofloxacin
- Metoclopramide
- Nitroglycerin
Specialty: Home Care Nursing
- Acetaminophen
- Acetaminophen/oxycodone
- Acetaminophen/propoxyphene napsylate
- Digoxin
- Diltiazem hydrochloride
- Docusate sodium
- Furosemide
- Metformin hydrochloride
- Potassium chloride
- Warfarin
Specialty: Long-Term Care Nursing
- Carbidopa/levodopa
- Digoxin
- Docusate sodium
- Donepezil hydrochloride
- Enalapril maleate
- Furosemide
- Metoprolol tartrate
- Mirtazapine
- Pantoprazole sodium
- Potassium chloride
Specialty: Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Acetaminophen
- Diltiazem hydrochloride
- Enalapril maleate
- Furosemide
- Heparin sodium
- Insulin
- Levofloxacin
- Metoprolol tartrate
- Morphine sulfate
- Potassium chloride
Specialty: Obstetric Nursing
- Acetaminophen/codeine
- Acetaminophen/oxycodone
- Dinoprostone
- Ibuprofen
- Magnesium sulfate
- Nalbuphine hydrochloride
- Oxytocin
- Penicillin
- Promethazine hydrochloride
- Terbutaline sulfate
Specialty: Pediatric Nursing
- Albuterol
- Amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium
- Amoxicillin trihydrate
- Cetirizine hydrochloride
- Co-trimoxazole
- Fluticasone propionate
- Gentamicin sulfate
- Hydrocortisone (topical)
- Methylphenidate hydrochloride
- Montelukast sodium
Specialty: Post-Anesthesia Care Nursing
- Bupivacaine hydrochloride
- Fentanyl citrate
- Hydromorphone hydrochloride
- Lidocaine hydrochloride
- Lorazepam
- Meperidine hydrochloride
- Metoclopramide hydrochloride
- Midazolam hydrochloride
- Morphine sulfate
- Ondansetron hydrochloride
Specialty: Psychiatric Nursing
- Carbamazepine
- Clonazepam
- Divalproex sodium
- Escitalopram oxalate
- Lithium carbonate
- Olanzapine
- Paroxetine hydrochloride
- Risperidone
- Sertraline hydrochloride
- Venlafaxine hydrochloride
Source: 2005 Nursing Spectrum Drug Handbook.
Available at www.nursesdrughandbook.com.
Accessed September 3, 2004. |
