[mstaylor]

It happened again to me today. I had a 10ml syringe of Pepsid to give over 2 minutes (5ml per minute). I went into the room to give it IV push, but my preceptor said, "Oh no, just put it in the infusion pump!" I don't understand why. Also, I have been reading up on different IV meds so I know the common ones as to how much time it needs to be IV pushed. Most are anywhere from 1 minute to 5 minutes. Of course I am trying to be a good nurse to time my IV pushes (a couple of preceptors let me IV push instead of putting it in the infusion pump). These preceptors said to me to just push it in quicker, there is no time to wait the full 1 or 2 minutes cause you need to get to the next patient. Yes, I feel like I am going crazy in my head with all this. Now I am looking at the clock half way through the day to see how much time I have left to go home.

[Nrs_angie]

Originally Posted by mstaylor

It happened again to me today. I had a 10ml syringe of Pepsid to give over 2 minutes (5ml per minute). I went into the room to give it IV push, but my preceptor said, "Oh no, just put it in the infusion pump!" I don't understand why. Also, I have been reading up on different IV meds so I know the common ones as to how much time it needs to be IV pushed. Most are anywhere from 1 minute to 5 minutes. Of course I am trying to be a good nurse to time my IV pushes (a couple of preceptors let me IV push instead of putting it in the infusion pump). These preceptors said to me to just push it in quicker, there is no time to wait the full 1 or 2 minutes cause you need to get to the next patient. Yes, I feel like I am going crazy in my head with all this. Now I am looking at the clock half way through the day to see how much time I have left to go home.

Ahhh this is pretty much what I was assuming when I read your first post... now it is more clear.... the only reason they are telling you to put it on the pump is because you don't have time to stand there for 5 minutes slowly pushing a med... the pump will do the work for you and accurately.... thats all.

In the same way that we used the BARD pump for Antibiotics in prefilled syringes that came up from pharmacy... we could also use the pump for IV push meds that we filled ourselves... a common one was Lopressor IV which needed to be pushed over 5 minutes... no need to stand there... the machine would do the work for you... especially handy when the pt is getting multiple doses of Lopressor throughout the shift.

Next time you are unsure why these nurses tell you to do something a certain way that you've never done before... say it simply this way...
"Im just curious... In the hospital where I worked before (nursing home, clinic, ect), we always just pushed the med. Is there another reason why you want me to put it on the pump?"
If they wont explain their rationale... then they should be written up with the supervisor.

[Sweetooth EMT-P, RN]

Well I am glad you returned to the profession MsTaylor, I am sure some things have changed since you left, but before long it will be a peice of cake.

[swee2000]

Originally Posted by Nrs_angie

I just dont see why you wouldn't "push" the meds which are to infuse over 1 minute or two minutes. It seems silly? Am I missing something here?

I see RNs do this all the time on my unit, especially with Pepcid. And the most common reason they give: "I'm way too busy and have more important things to do than stand at the bedside for 2 minutes pushing a med that could just as easily be ran through the pump as an IVPB".

[michelle126]

So....is it that easy to load the pump? and change the tubing etc? I would think it would be just as easy/ quick to push the drug than go thru the hassle of hooking it up?

[MedicalLPN]

Wow I feel really stupid, the only pre-filled syringes we put on our pumps are the 30ml's of Morphine and Dilaudid for PCA's lol learn something new every day!

[swee2000]

Originally Posted by michelle126

So....is it that easy to load the pump? and change the tubing etc? I would think it would be just as easy/ quick to push the drug than go thru the hassle of hooking it up?

Um, they don't have to change any tubing. In fact, no tubing is involved. The Pepcid comes in a prefilled syringe, so they just screw the syringe onto the clave of the cassette(part of the primary tubing) & where the secondary tubing would've been screwed on, then program the pump for the correct rate, and presto! An IV push med is now running like an IVPB.

Funny thing is that the time it takes to do all this, they could've just pushed the darn med through.

[michelle126]

Originally Posted by swee2000

Um, they don't have to change any tubing. In fact, no tubing is involved. The Pepcid comes in a prefilled syringe, so they just screw the syringe onto the clave of the cassette(part of the primary tubing) & where the secondary tubing would've been screwed on, then program the pump for the correct rate, and presto! An IV push med is now running like an IVPB.

Funny thing is that the time it takes to do all this, they could've just pushed the darn med through.

But don't you have a primary running to do this?
What type of meds must be given like this (I know PCAs).

[Nrs_angie]

Originally Posted by michelle126

But don't you have a primary running to do this?
What type of meds must be given like this (I know PCAs).

Michelle,

Read some of my previous posts. I talk about a hospital that I used to work at where we would give Pre-filled drugs through a Bard Pump.... ect.

Check it out, it was interesting

[swee2000]

Originally Posted by michelle126

But don't you have a primary running to do this? What type of meds must be given like this (I know PCAs).

Yes, there is a primary line already going when the IV Pepcid, for example, is "hung" as an IVPB. I don't think the RNs(on my unit) would do it if this weren't the case, as it really wouldn't make sense then & would take even more time than just pushing the med themselves.