[Inquisitive one]

When reconstituting an IV med, is it appropriate to withdraw the dilutent(say normal saline) from the bag you are going to add the med to. Example, vanco one gram iv is ordered. Can you withdraw normal saline form the 250 ml bag, add it to the powdered vial of vanco one gram, mix it, with draw from the vanco vial and add back to the 250 ml bag of normal saline. A separate syring is used each time. Or do you need to get a separate vial of dilutent to mix the vanco with? What would be standard practice. The best thing would be to wait until the pharmacy delivers the premix med but working in long term care there isn't an inhouse pharmacy and so meds need to be mixed by RN's sometimes so the resident doesn't have to wait for the med. Thanks for any input.

[Bets]

There should be some direction as to what you should use. If there isn't I usually call the pharmacy. Usually powdered vials are mixed with sterile water then instilled. If this is a regular practice at your facility you should have any IV policy book to address this.