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/pam-shalom BSN Jun 20 '25

I'm a nurse. I have chronic pain. I'm afraid of ketamine.

3

u/comefromawayfan2022 Jun 20 '25

I too am afraid of ketamine. It was given to me once during an "awake intubation" and it was absolutely terrifying. All I could see in front of me was nothing but blackness but I felt terrified and I must've been trying to pull out the tube or something because I distinctly heard people telling me to stop.

2

u/rainbowsforeverrr Jun 20 '25

Is this from your observations or personal experience? I'm curious to know more if you're willing to share.

2

u/pam-shalom BSN Jun 20 '25

No personal experience but dissociation scares me m

1

u/pam-shalom BSN Jun 20 '25

Rational or not, it is what it