* Switching old IV bag out with New bag**

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I have been researching and watching countless videos on Youtube of how to switch IV bags. Most youtube videos explain how to setup the initial bag and rate but not how to switch out empty IV bags. Can someone please help me with this, I would greatly appreciate it!

-Lets say you have 2 IV's on 1 pole, 1 ATB and 1 1000mL bag NS. When changing out the bag of NS the line is already primed. So do I just need to tighten the roller clamp on the main line IV, flip bag over and empty remaining contents from drip chamber into old bag. Then uncap new IV bag, while maintaining sterility of spike then spike the bag. Then fill chamber, set pump, ad unclamp?

Thanks!!!

Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

All you need to do to change the primary bag (NS) is pull the white plug on the new bag. This gives you access to spike it. Hang the new bag on the pole. Take down the old bag with tubing. Turn the bag upside down and pull out the spike (This will prevent the fluids from running out of the old bag). Do not push the remaining fluid in the chamber into the old bag. There is no need for that. Throw the old bag away. Then you spike the new bag. I do give the chamber a little squeeze to make sure I am in the bag. Then I reset the pump with the new total volume to infuse.

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