Pain meds IV push

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi all,

i just started at a new hospital and am still on orientation there I came from a smaller suburban hospital where for people in acute pain such as post op pain iv pain meds would be pushed as long as it was in accordance with hospital policy the other day at the new hospital I am training at I had a pt who was sp TLIF procedure in excruciating pain so after checking the hospitals policy for iv morphine I pushed the med into the pt's iv a bit later the nurse who was orienting me that day asked how I gave the morphine and insisted that they was its done there is to put it in a 50ml bag of NS or D5W and hang IVPB to me it seems silly! I'm wondering what your practices/ policies are in other facilities ?????

thanks!!

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

In 16+ years of bedside I always pushed IV pain meds, but that was always in PICU/ICU or Hospice...in PICU would occasionally infuse with a syringe pump but more often would push slowly.

Never, ever hung in NS....

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
In 16+ years of bedside I always pushed IV pain meds, but that was always in PICU/ICU or Hospice...in PICU would occasionally infuse with a syringe pump but more often would push slowly.

Never, ever hung in NS....

SO have I, for the most part, but it's not an unheard of practice.

Specializes in Gerontology.

Only certain units are permitted to push narcs at our hospital.

If a nurse works several units, she has to follow the policy for that unit.

For example - ER can push, Rehab cannot. Its frustrating, but that's life.

For a while, Rehab ( the unit I work on) wasn't even allowed to push Lasix between blood units. We had to hang a mini-bag and give it that way. It took us a lot of conversations with the Professional Practise Leaders before we could convince them that we were perfectly capable of pushing Lasix and it was better for the pt in the long run. We finally won.

Looks like the time taken to get and mix would be just as much as standing there etc.- Putting it in IVPB vs. IVP would mean an LPN could give the morphine...

And in some places they do :)

Did Dr. Murray write the order? :eek:

Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg, ED.

I would not feel comfortable leaving Morphine in a bag to infuse....whats the the difference between that and leaving a syringe of morphine sitting around. The medication is out under your name, you better make sure it goes into the right body. Just my opinion!

Specializes in med surge, ortho.

At my facility if the narc was in a IVPB it would have to be on a closed line and the bag itself in a lock box, hanging on IV pole. Anyone can take that narc if its left there dripping...

For a while, Rehab ( the unit I work on) wasn't even allowed to push Lasix between blood units. We had to hang a mini-bag and give it that way.

Bahaha! Brilliant policy! "I am now going to administer lasix. With a bunch of extra fluid." I think the policy written right after that should be, "All morphine should be administered mixed with narcan."

:yeah:

Bahaha! Brilliant policy! "I am now going to administer lasix. With a bunch of extra fluid." I think the policy written right after that should be, "All morphine should be administered mixed with narcan."

:lol2: :yeah: :lol2: :yeah: :D :yeah: :lol2: :yeah:

Specializes in Gerontology.
Bahaha! Brilliant policy! "I am now going to administer lasix. With a bunch of extra fluid." I think the policy written right after that should be, "All morphine should be administered mixed with narcan."

Exactly our arguement! We pointed out that it was riduculous to give extra fluid when giving Lasix.

Our "Professional Practice Leader (PPL)" stated that 'we (as in the nurses on Rehab) don't give blood often enough engough to "remain competent" (her words, not mine). We pointed out that with the current move to bring pts down 2 -3 days post op, we were giving blood more ofter then ever. We also pointed out that we we were expected to "remain competent" in procecure such as catheters, VAC drsgs, stitches (not staples) removal, and so forth that we saw just as often s blood transfusions so we could certainly remain competent in giving lasix push!

Our PPL seem to regard us as total idiots, which is a new thread all on its own@

Exactly our arguement! We pointed out that it was riduculous to give extra fluid when giving Lasix.

Our "Professional Practice Leader (PPL)" stated that 'we (as in the nurses on Rehab) don't give blood often enough engough to "remain competent" (her words, not mine). We pointed out that with the current move to bring pts down 2 -3 days post op, we were giving blood more ofter then ever. We also pointed out that we we were expected to "remain competent" in procecure such as catheters, VAC drsgs, stitches (not staples) removal, and so forth that we saw just as often s blood transfusions so we could certainly remain competent in giving lasix push!

Our PPL seem to regard us as total idiots, which is a new thread all on its own@

Does this PPL need carbon dating, or is she actually of the last century?

:eek:

I'm so sorry you have to put up with THAT.... :cool:

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

SILLY! Silly enough to look up the policy and if that is the case, you, as a patient advocate should work to get it changed. Wait till ya get off orientation for a few weeks.

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