I am scared of the IV pump!!

U.S.A. Virginia

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Specializes in none yet.

I am a new nurse. Three days into the orientation and I do not feel comfortable operating the IV pump. I have asked questions and demonstrated back the process to my preceptor but still do not feel 100% competent. When starts to beep. I cringe at having to go fix it. There are so many lines going everywhere that i am scared of screwing up. Any suggestions or comments?:uhoh21:

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

RN 4 u,

Here are some basics

All IV pumps have two main settings :

rate in mL/hr and Volume to be infused in mLs : and if you need to put a secondary on you hit the secondary button and indicate the above settings in mLs.

Do not be afraid of an IV pump- they are easy to use if you keep the above in mind all you have to do is find the right buttons to push. If you are nervious about bolusing the patient with something you do not want to bolus them with you can always clamp the lines until you are ready to hit the start button.

The main alarms on teh pump is going to be either:

Air in the line or occlusion, both are easy to fix, and usually the later is that the person setting it forgot to open the clamp back up. For air you disconect from the patient and prime the fluid past the pump and you should be good to go. Obviously I cannot speak for all pumps, however I am a paramedic and also a nursing student so I have used a few different pumps and they all have the same basic functions. Not sure if this will help, hope it does. You may even want to play around with one of your hospital pumps without a patient on the other end of course, that might get you more comfortable with it.

swtooth

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Specializes in none yet.

Thanks that does help alot I have requested to hang every iv med that my preceptor has so I am trying to get more confident and build up my skill. I will keep that in mind. Being fresh out of school qthing is just so new, I didn't have a whole lot of experience in my program. so the little things and knowing how to operate the equipment is very important, right now i feel so incompetent but i am pushing forward. Thanks 4 the reply.

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