Chart all of your titrations in real time. You’ll always know what is what very quickly!ĩ. Label your lines clearly near the first Y-port. Utilize your IV lines and ports appropriately.Ĩ. Surprisingly, many drips are compatible with a lot of things. Check IV compatibility when you’re hanging antibiotics or other IVPB meds. You’ll have to talk to the doctor about the plan because they’re still ordered (maybe a MAR hold until the drip is no longer needed or maybe they just need to be discontinued all together.) Just make sure you think before you medicate – don’t get on autopilot!ħ. If they are on a drip to INCREASE their blood pressure, do not give their scheduled antihypertensives. Don’t forget your critical thinking skills! Remember when giving other meds what the drip is for. They may round a 1300 and ask why they weren’t notified that there aren’t any orders for PO Cardizem and why they are STILL on the drip and no one told them (cough-becauseyourcolleaguedidntorderthem-cough).Ħ. Conversely, if they’ve been on a Cardizem drip for 2 days and there’s no orders for PO or talk of converting to PO – call and ask about the plan if it’s not written in a note. For example, if they’ve been on a Cardizem drip for an hour and a half, are maxed out, and they are in afib with a heart rate of 140 – you need to call. Know when you need to call with concerns/questions. Your bolus bag only takes 10 minutes and that goes by very, very quickly. Or if you are hanging an Amiodarone drip, make sure you have your bolus bag AND your second bag ready. You do not want to push the med and then wait for the bag to come up from pharmacy. If they want a 10 mg bolus of Cardizem before you start your drip, make sure you have both the bolus and the drip bag in your hands. Have everything you need before you start your drip. If they’re at 5 mg/hr of Cardene and they’re well below their blood pressure limit – wean it off! Always, always be looking to wean as soon as it is clinically appropriate.Ĥ. If you don’t know exactly how to titrate/manage the drip, print the policy. For example, if you’re about to start a heparin drip you typically need a baseline PTT or Anti-Xa.ģ. Collect necessary baseline labs, like, now. Roberson in bed 28 really wants his suppository but he will have to wait.Ģ. When you get an order to start a drip, that becomes your priority. Here are my 11 points of enlightenment when working with drips!ġ. I’m going to do a few posts on various drips that are geared towards newer nurses.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |