I am looking for an instruction or guidance on the use of an IV pump for
the administration of IV fluids with and without medications added. I
had thought that there was a JCAHO guideline requiring the use of IV
pumps, but have not been able to locate one. I am very interested in
any articles or information you may have concerning this issue, as I am
currently at an organization that does not have ready access to IV
pumps.
the administration of IV fluids with and without medications added. I
had thought that there was a JCAHO guideline requiring the use of IV
pumps, but have not been able to locate one. I am very interested in
any articles or information you may have concerning this issue, as I am
currently at an organization that does not have ready access to IV
pumps.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Our facility does not have the resouces for every patient requiring IV infusions via infusion pump. We have a new Associate Chief Nursing Officer that feels any IV solution containing K+ should be infused via pump on any patient.
Is this standard practice? This seems overkill to me.
It is not the standard of practice as established by the Infusion Nurses Society. Infusion pumps for all pateints have become quite common, and thus the default standard of care, due to the risk of under/over infusion and the nursing time required to count drops and regulate rates. So the risk of receiving too much or not enough flow rate as prescribed still exists for all your patients without pumps. Gravity flow has an accuracy rating of +/- 25% while pumps are usually +/- 5%. Gahart's Intravenous Medications book states that use of an infusion pump is recommended in all situations and required with any dose exceeding 60 mEq/24 hr. Your staff must be educated that the infusion pump is not designed to detect an infiltration. K is a vesicant so if the fluid is leaking out of the vein, the pump will keep on pumping. The alarms will never provide any indication of infiltration. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861