Clap Beat Cardiac Meds
(one, two, three, let's go)
Check the pressure, check the rate,
Check the potassium before it’s too late!
Know what to hold,
know what to report— Cardiac meds: assess,
then support!
Metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol too,
Slow the heart and lower pressure for you.
Check the pulse and BP before you give,
Hold for bradycardia—know the parameters to live!
They can hide hypoglycemia’s warning sign,
Never stop them suddenly—taper over time.
Beta blockers: slow that beat,
Check heart rate before the treat!
Low pulse, low pressure?
Hold and report— Assess the patient before you support!
Lisinopril, enalapril—ACE is the name,
Lower angiotensin, reduce pressure and strain.
Watch for cough and angioedema in the face,
Potassium can rise, so labs need a place.
Losartan and valsartan—ARBs on the team,
Similar benefits, but no ACE cough theme.
Both can harm a developing baby,
Avoid in pregnancy—protect mom and baby!
ACE and ARB: pressure goes down,
Potassium may rise—watch it around!
Cough or swollen lips?
Stop and report, Pregnancy warning—avoid this sort!
Furosemide pulls the fluid away,
Loop diuretic—watch K⁺ every day.
Daily weights, intake and output in line,
Low potassium and dehydration are signs.
Spironolactone saves potassium well,
But hyperkalemia is the warning bell.
No potassium salt or supplements in sight,
And gynecomastia can be its side.
Loops lose potassium—K⁺ goes low,
Spironolactone saves it—K⁺ may grow!
Daily weight tells fluid’s report,
I and O, pressure,
electrolytes—support! Digoxin helps the heart squeeze and slow,
Check the apical pulse before you go.
Hold for a low pulse per facility rule,
And low potassium makes toxicity cruel.
Nausea, vomiting, halos in view,
Confusion or dysrhythmias may come through.
Check potassium and digoxin level too— Toxicity means notify the crew!
Digoxin:
squeeze and slow, Apical pulse before you go!
Nausea, halos, rhythm wrong?
Hold the dose and report it strong!
Nitroglycerin opens vessels wide,
Relieves angina and lowers cardiac side.
Sit down first—dizziness can occur,
And never mix with sildenafil or tadalafil,
sir! Chest pain not relieved after prescribed doses?
Call emergency help—don’t make excuses.
Headache and low pressure may be seen,
But dangerous combinations must be screened.
Nitrates relax, nitrates dilate,
Sit down first and watch your rate!
Never with PDE-5 drugs combined— Severe hypotension is what you may find!
Aspirin
and clopidogrel stop platelets from a chain,
Watch for bleeding, bruising,
blood in the drain.
Warfarin follows INR for the dose,
Vitamin K reverses when bleeding is close.
Heparin follows aPTT, Protamine is the reversal key.
Statins lower LDL in the race,
Report muscle pain and dark urine—check that case!
Check the pressure, check the rate,
Check the potassium before it’s too late!
Bleeding, toxicity, chest pain,
or shock— Hold, assess,
report, and watch the clock!
Beta blockers slow, ACE lowers strain,
Loops lose K⁺, spironolactone retains.
Digoxin squeezes, nitrates dilate— Know the key safety checks—that’s how you pass
NCLEX straight!
“Slow, squeeze, lower, lose,
save, dilate, prevent clots,
lower LDL.”
Slow: Beta blockers Squeeze: Digoxin Lower: ACE and ARBs Lose: Loops Save:
Spironolactone Dilate:
Nitrates
(that's how
you
pass!)