IV pumps

[khb78]

About 3 weeks ago I was taking care of a patient and hanging IV antibiotics. I primed the line and then hung the IV pump and then the IV pumped started beeping due to air bubbles. I took the IV line out and primed it again. I then connected the line back into the pump and the pump begin to adminster the medication. I then went to lunch and when I came back all the medication was administered and the pump was beeping and I could see bubbles above the pump. I asked a nurse about why the medication was already finished because I showed her how I set it and I know I set everything correctly, she said it was probably a defect in the pump. I think what happened was that I wasted medication priming the IV line due to all the bubbles before hand. I then started thinking what if the pump was to have problems (defect) and air bubbles a little or a lot went into my patient (IV in the hand with heplock). I started worrying later about air emboli or pulmonary emboli or infarction. I have been trying to find information on this. We as nurses are able to recognize the patient having a air emboli, pulmonary embolism or infarction right away or will this manifest on a later date. This patient was suffering from Pnemonia and a while back had stents put in her leg(s). I talked to her 21/2 weeks later and she said she is still having problems with her lungs and cough and that she the doctor wants to due some more tests to see what the problem is.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Maggie&Sally-------------What are you asking....I think I might know however if Im right this question is just way to easy.

If you want to run in 50 ml in 1/2 hour then the rate of flow would be 100 ml per hour. If you want to run in 50 ml in 15 minutes then the rate of flow would be 200 ml. Is that the question you are asking?

I thought it was just me! If it's that easy, I'm bothered that this has to be asked. :uhoh21:

[Kymmi]

Dawngloves.....nope.....you and I are on the same train of thought.