backpriming/backflushing (student)

When is this done exactly?

I came across this:

http://teach.lanecc.edu/nursingskills/ivmed/IVck2.htm

that explains it. Do you guys generally use this method when say for instance, one med was piggybacking and then you were going to piggyback a second med after the first was done infusing, but you weren't sure if the 2 PBs were compatible and therefore no residue of the first one should be left in the line? Or would you just switch the tubing?

I was told that it was acceptable to do this but the idea of using different meds in the same tubing never sat well with me so I always used different tubing for different meds.

Do you ever backprime when say Vanco PB just infused and another Vanco PB is due, and then you just lower the secondary bag under the primary and "back prime" so that you don't have to run the Vanco through the line until it drips out into the grabage can or whatever (and you end up losing some of the ABX this way)?

Precisely.

I back prime always for meds like (zosyn q 8) or whatever. If I have to hang a different abx, I just get another piggyback tubing set.

I use different tubing for different piggybacks.

I usually backprime if I'm changing an existing PB (like your example of Vanco). If I am hanging a new PB, then usually I will prime new tubing in the med room prior to bringing it into the patient's room. All depends on how my night is going & how much time I have.

Different sets of tubing for each PB. I always backprime with the mainline so I don't lose any of the PB med while priming the line.