RE: RSI

["Tom Waters" <tom@tomwaters.net>]

Title: Message

Here in New Mexico, Nurses can push all the drugs but not intubate. (without a modicum of special training) Medics can intubate but not push the drugs (without special skills approval) and NO, it isn't "legal" to have the RN push the drugs, and have the PM partner do the intubation either.  That is "not in the spirit of the regulations..."

NM requires a special skills approval process (somewhat lengthy but not terrible) for the medics to do the RSI, and the RN board requires very little other than documented training to let them intubate.

 

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: flightmed-admin@flightweb.com [mailto:flightmed-admin@flightweb.com] On Behalf Of DRDR0682@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 12:44 PM
To: flightmed@flightweb.com
Subject: Re: RSI

I    We use fentanyl or etomidate for the sedative/hypnotic agent.  Both are available to the crew and it is their choice.  We use succinylcholine as the RSI induction paralytic and use vecuronium to maintain paralysis after the tube has been confirmed to be in the trachea.  
    The Board of Nursing in the state of Colorado does not specify any drugs to be used or not used by nurses.  It is up to the physician advisor to train and QA  nurses on any regimen to be implemented.  Colorado is much tougher on paramedics than nurses in this regard.  Paramedics and medical directors ultimately answer to the Board of Medical Examiners and not the Board of Nursing.
    Hope this is helpful.

Dave Ross
Medical Director
Flight for Life
Colorado Springs, CO