Labs and vasopressors..new icu nurse needs advice

[icu26RN]

What do you do if your pt has a picc line or central line and you need to get AM labs from the line but they are on high doses of levophed or any other vasopressor? Are you supposed to put all IV fluids on hold while you draw labs so they dont dilute the lab sample.. what if your pt is very sensitive to the vasopressor and drops their pressure right away? But what if you leave the pressors on will it mess up the lab results? Please help..I need advice.

[funkywoman]

Medicare? An administration should not be allowed to dictate what is medically acceptable. It should be a standard of practice to have transduced blood pressures for anyone sick enough for pressors! I like the way your docs sound.

thanks, I really miss that place, had to relocate due to husbands job, in the market now and looking, wish me luck

[Five&Two Will Do]

thanks, I really miss that place, had to relocate due to husbands job, in the market now and looking, wish me luck

Good luck and I highly recommend you find a VA!

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

I know this is really old...

But I have seen a handful of pedals and at least 2 brachials. Are they really that bad? Our anesthesia CC docs put alines in on any pt with a vaso active drip.

I have seen pedals used in both the NICU and the PICU...granted the kiddo needs to be pretty sedated to keep them from kicking it out, don't see why it would be an issue on an adult though...

[ICU, RN, BSN, B.S.]

What do you do if your pt has a picc line or central line and you need to get AM labs from the line but they are on high doses of levophed or any other vasopressor? Are you supposed to put all IV fluids on hold while you draw labs so they dont dilute the lab sample.. what if your pt is very sensitive to the vasopressor and drops their pressure right away? But what if you leave the pressors on will it mess up the lab results? Please help..I need advice.

I just started in the ICU 3 days ago (MICU/SICU). My preceptor just talked about this. Some of the lab techs will say it's policy to turn off the IV drips for a bit before they draw labs. She said absolutely not in the case of pressors. Keep those running!!