Alaris infusion pump

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I have kind of an embarrassing question.

What are Guardrails drugs and/or Guardrails fluids? Thanks

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Heparin/ zithromax/ potassium plus many others.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Guardrail drugs are drugs ie. flagyl, vancomycin, etc. any drug that is not an IV fluid.

Guardrail IV fluids are normal saline, D5W, TPN, etc.

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Specializes in ER.

According to your facility

Guardrail drugs simply mean any drug that is preprogrammed into your pump. In my facility, that includes hundreds.

Guardrail fluids are any fluids, again, that are preprogrammed.......

Guardrail doesn't really mean much beyond that.

Very rarely do I have to use basic infusion, because our facility is great at keeping everything up to date.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Guardrails is the name that Cardinal (maker of Alaris pump) has given to their safety program. They have built-in safety features so that you do not make mistakes easily. Some are soft (with yellow highlighting to warn you that you need to re-consider what you have ordered the pump to do) and some are hard (will NOT let you do what you ordered the pump to do). Guardrails are set by the company, as well as key nurses and pharmacy in your facility prior to the pumps being made available on the floor.

The drugs will vary from facility to facility, but basically are the ones that can cause a lot of problems if accidentally given incorrectly (like insulin at 50 units/hour versus 5 units/hour).

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