How do you document Pitocin on the I&O?

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2012

Do your pumps keep a record of the total volume infused? Every electronic pump I've used keeps track of the total volume until you reset it. Seems like you should just be able to look at this setting on the pump each hour and it will tell you how much volume the patient got.

I don't work in L&D but we do document all our drips on the I&O- even if we are titrating frequently.

Kayla.J.RN · Sep 3, 2012

Thanks Ashley, that sounds like a great suggestion. We have two different IV pumps on our units, Alaris and Imed. I am more familiar with the Alaris pump and I'm pretty sure you can see the volume infused... but I'm not sure if we can with the blue Imed pump. I'll take a look at this with my preceptor when I go into work tomorrow.

Fyreflie · Sep 3, 2012

I guess it depends on how you're mixing and running your oxytocin!! My first unit, we mixed 10 units in 1000 ml and started at 2.5 mu/min = 15 ml/hr and so by the time we made it to max pit (40 mu--250 ml/hr approx!) we were running large volumes of fluid/hr. In that case, I documented by clearing the pump volumes--not necessarily every hour, as the volumes started out smaller, but every four to eight depending on what was going on. Exceptions to that were people with fluid restrictions (ie hypertension issues)--they got totaled every hour in labour from the beginning.

On my current unit we mix 20 units in 1000ml and start at 1mu/min = 3ml/hr. I do not bother with those volumes until we hit 20 ml/hr or so and if I do totals its usually every 8-12 hours. Once a shift basically. If they're hypertensive I still do hourly because that's part of our order set on mag etc. I have rarely had a pt go through one bag of pit in an entire labour, and we only go up to 20mu max on my unit now so 60 ml/hr.

It really depends on your comfort level and assessment!! I know nurses who measure every void starting on admission to a labour room whether it's ordered or not--some even dip every single one!! I start measuring only if there's a reason--someone who has had a lot of IV fluid, for example, to make sure they're diuresing appropriately. But a woman who has nothing on board for pain and is drinking, has no IV and is moving around? I just ask her if she feels empty when she's done, or if she's able to void normally.

It's always good to document appropriately but I personally don't think I would worry about being so detailed--although I probably was when I first started :) we do enough nitpicky work and triple charting as it is, right?

Kayla.J.RN · Sep 3, 2012

Thank you Fyreflie, your post was very helpful. We use 20 units pitocin in 1000 ml and start at 2 mu/min which is 6 ml/hr and we increase by 2 mu/min q 15-30 depending on the order. I always document the rate of the pitocin with my ongoing assessments and I document every time I change the rate. My preceptor says that should be enough... but I guess I wanted to make sure whether that was correct.

I guess because I am new I want to be thorough.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Sep 5, 2012

Pitocin should be on its own pump. Clear your pump at the beginning of your shift, then document the Volume Infused at the end of your shift. Simple as that.

jodyangel, RN · Sep 9, 2012

This is a good question. I just finished orientation at a new facility and they do all online charting. So they chart hourly I&O online, and the pit is making my head hurt lol. Only because every nurse that oriented me told me a differant way of knowing how many mls of pit were going in each hour. And yes with all the titration I found it Very confusing and honestly totally inacurate.

In my former job we did the paper intake and output..so you would just clear your pump at the end of your shift and that was that. Simple.

I will try the clear your pump volume infused method..see if that is clearer..

nurse4newlife · Sep 10, 2012

Also an L&D nurse, record and clear tje volumes infused hourly and it doesn't matter how frequently the dosage is increased. The ml/hr will be on your pump. Now YOU caan teach your preceptor something valuable!

guamba · Sep 12, 2012

At my facility we use Alaris pumps and you absolutely should document the I&O of pitocin. It's important to know how much you're pumping into your patient and whether or not they're clearing it. You don't necessarily have to do hourly I&O documentation unless they're high risk I.e. in controlled hypertensive or pre-ecmalptic, kidney disease etc. I would bet all pumps have a volume infused option.

Also, no matter how often you're titrating the mu/min (and you should be documenting this on the MAR) the ml/hr is what you're documenting on the I&O flowsheet.

jodyangel, RN · Sep 12, 2012

Well its all computerized charting..and wants hourly intake on every pt.