diluting I.V lasix

[ADN2003]

happy new year folks,

l just started a new job where they don't mix their lasix with NS before pushing it and l came from a hospital where we mix, what is the best method and what do you guys do in your practise, to mix or not to mix?

[Mulan]

Have given it both ways.

There is no reason why it can't be diluted.

[Mississippi_RN]

Don't dilute Lasix either. Push at 10mg (1ml) per minute. Now, Demerol, on the other hand, is a different story. Demerol IVP I dilute unless they have a running IV...then, I just push slowly.

[pugmum]

Generally not unless its a policy at a particular facility.

[LoraLou]

we usually do at my hospital. it is supposedly tough on veins?

[MarcusKspn]

I have always diluted lasix when giving it IV push. I push it 10mg/min, but find it a lot easier to slowly push 3cc and have better controll over my speed of administration than pushing 1cc. I dilute all my IV pushes for that reason unless the med is not compatible.

[jmgrn65, RN]

no don't dilute, generally don't dilute iv meds just push it slow.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

No dilution here either. About the only thing i dilute is Ativan, or occasionally a small dose dilaudid will get 1cc ns dilution just for better control.

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

Just want to clarify my previous post. I dilute if I have to give 20 mg, for the simple reason of better control of pushing slow. I find it easier to push 4 ml slowly compared to 2 ml. Never have I diluted it in larger quantities.

:) Super

[pugmum]

I already responded, but just thought of something that might make a difference... at the hospital I work at now, the IV admin policies change from unit to unit...for example, ER and other critical care areas will allow you to give some meds undiluted, but on a med/surg unit, they would need to be diluted. For the life of me, I cannot remember the difference for Lasix, but in ER it is generally undiluted.

[grinnurse, RN]

I really don't know what our P&P is on Lasix and dilluting, but, I dilute everything-good habit from nursing school, even if they have fluid running, I still dilute!! Especially Demerol/Phenergan. I know from personal experience that some of the nurses on my unit don't.

[DR2004RN]

Boy am I glad I found this thread!! I was told to dilute lasix in nursing school also. So last night I was telling a nursing student that she needed to dilute lasix and one of the other nurses piped up and said he had never even heard of diluting lasix. I was told that lasix burns, and thats why it needs to be diluted. Needless to say, this nurse made me feel really stupid for even suggesting that I dilute the lasix. I am glad there are fellow nurses that have also heard of diluting lasix!

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I do not dilute. I just push slowly. I have never given more than 80 mg at a time.