How to IV push

[jordangregory]

Kind of a technical question, but I was wondering a few things about IV pushes. First, if you find that a specific drug is to be pushed over 2 minutes, what does that mean exactly? If I have 2cc, do I push 0.5 cc at zero seconds, then another 0.5 cc at 30 seconds, another at 1 minutes and other at 1min 30 seconds?

Second question: where is the research on all of this? I have tried a search and didn't come up with anything.

[meandragonbrett]

How would you piggyback a drug that you have to draw? I have never heard of being able to piggyback something that wasn't already in a bag, and surely, you wouldn't mix something like 40mg Lasix with a 250 bag of NS.....? Just curious.

It depends on what type of pump you have. If you have the hospira ones that use the cartridge, you can just screw the syringe onto it and set it to run in over a few minutes.

[cherokeeangel]

To piggyback something you've drawn up you simply get a 50ml bag of NS or other compatible solution. Drawn up the med and take your needle on the syringe and insert it into the port on the bag, inject the med. remember to put on a med added sticker,so ppl know it isn't just saline. also if it's insulin you've added, you should add it to a 100ml NS bag and connect iv tubing and flush with out at least 25ml through the tubing due to the fact insulin sticks to the tubing so the pt won't get the proper amt until the tubing is coated.

Hope this helps

[raindrop]

yea, it does make sense. I supppose I was confused because at my hospital, the smallest smallest bag of saline bag available is 250ml's. Hmmmm. I wonder why pharmacy doesn't make the smaller bags at our hospital. It would definetely make things easier for the nurse, and safer for the patient.

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

I was recently advised by our ER pharmacist that we are supposed to inject iv push meds as they are....they don't want them diluted unless absolutely necessary or due to a patient's condition. It uses extra resources and helps bring up the cost of healthcare. I will use as a patient safety or as a time saver. If I put pepcid, rocephin or a large order of narcotic in a bag...I am assured of a slow infusion. Sometimes it is necessary as I don't have 4-10 minutes to spend at bedside if mini infuser not available.

You probably don't have 50ml bags due to cost.

Maisy;)

[jordangregory]

It has been good to hear all of the responces, and has confirmed what I thought. It seems that their isn't any standard way to do an IV push and their isn't any research out there. I am really wondering who is deciding a med should be pushed over a certain amount of time and how did they come to this conclusion. Did just one guy have a bad reaction to a med being pushed too fast? Was their a double blind study?