r/emergencymedicine • u/rainbowsforeverrr • Jun 20 '25

Advice Ketamine-- how to prepare patients?

Hi folks, ER nurse here. I'm curious how you talk to patients about ketamine admin for procedures or for intractable pain relief. I give it fairly often but I still haven't found the right way to prepare patients (or parents of littles) for the psychotropic effects. I've never used ketamine personally, but it seems to be a very intense experience that ought to be part of the informed consent conversation. What is our ethical obligation?

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u/WanderOtter ED Attending Jun 20 '25

I ask them to think of something that makes them happy, like a specific place or event. Then I tell them if they think hard enough about it, then they may experience that place or event.

Doesn’t always work, I had a patient tell me that we all turned into minions, although this was not upsetting for them.