I have been looking online and in my drug books and cant find an answer to this question...
On Thursday in clinical I had a pt with a DVT that was receiving a Heparin protocol. She was also receiving Gentamycin IV Q12 h. She only had a double lumen PICC. The nurse I was working with said that the Heparin should be stopped to give the Gent b/c you cannot run both through the PICC and the woman had no other IV access. I was under the impression you NEVER stop Heparin unless you have an order from the physician. My instructor called the pharmacy and they said the drugs should be compatible. The nurse, however, said that they were not and that we should stop the Heparin for an hour.
I know that I am just a student, and I didnt want to step on her toes, but I was in a tough spot because the nurse and my instructor were disagreeing. I could not find anywhere that the Gent and heparin were incompatible, but I do see what she was saying about running both through one PICC line.
Anyway, she stopped the Heparin and piggybacked the Gent with NS, then restarted the Heparin.
What should I have done in this case?