Just some background on the patient-elderly man, severe abdominal pain, dehydrated. He was NPO, had NG tube to constant suction with a large amount of drainage coming out. CT of abd was negative. He hadn't had a bm in a few days so the GI doctor ordered a retention enema which was given with good results. Labs were pretty stable, but did have a potassium of 3.3, which we gave him po potassium based on the protocol in place. He was already getting normal saline at 125 ml/hr. That's the background.
So the resident doctor came and wrote an order for Lactated Ringers at 100ml/hr and D5NS at 100 ml/hr to run at the same time. I have never seen an order like that and just did not understand the rationale behind it, neither did any of the other nurses I work with, another doctor, nor the pharmacist. I called and clarified this with the doctor and he came back to the floor to talk to me. He said he asked his attending and superiors and they all agreed to the order, when I asked him the rationale behind why LR and D5NS, he said he didn't really know and that he would be researching that. I've tried to find some information on it, but can't. Anybody have anything?