I am soliciting ideas for safe administration of anticoags. For example, we label all of our lines, apply caps to the ports of High alert meds, use a volutrol, have another RN note our Heparin (units/hr) and check our vials when giving boluses. Any other ideas out there? I also proposed that heparin have its own single pump, but a lot of times that just not possible. ThanKs,

Deb:nurse:

Would say you've got it covered. I think making sure you have a pump for heparin (or other anti-coags, Integrillin, Reopro et al.) is essential. It may not have to be a separate pump, but for sure a separate channel.

Unfortunately we're not that detailed about it. Only some of us label our lines and rarely are the lines capped off. But we at least double check each other.

Cheers,

Tom