can you add KCL to IVF?

[Ms.RN]

can nurses add kcl to the iv fluid bag? i think nurses were allowed to admix medication to the bag, like vitamin b or other medications. but i dont know it can be done nowdays

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

the problems with adding potassium to fluids are multiple the main two however are

1. 'layering' influids where the potassium is added at ward level

2. the risks associated with neat potassium chloride solution on the units

certainly here in rightpondia we can get 20, 27 , 40 , 60 and even 80 mmol/l KCL in .9%NaCL, 5%Dextrose and dextrose / saline as stock items from our fluid suppliers

[jojotoo, RN]

Some institutions do allow nurses to prepare IVF with certan additives. But I thought that all vials of KCL were kept in the pharmacy now (and not on the unit) due to errors where KCL had been given as a direct IVP.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

We still mix many of our own drugs,.mostly antibiotics (have mixed feelings about that) but we haven't been allowed to even keep IV KCL unless it comes premixed from the manufacturer or pharmacy in years! I remember hearing the horror stories of the nurse who mistakenly pulled up KCL instead of NS for her morning HL flushes!! That story has always given me the chills and I'm glad I don't even have the option of grabbing the KCL by mistake!

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Pharmacy does that at my facility.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

As ZippyGBR has already said, we are not allowed to add KCL to IV fluids in the UK except in ICU

[crb613, BSN, RN]

We do add K+ where I work as well as mix antibiotics. I work nights...no pharm at night. I am always very careful with all especially K+....SHAKE heck out of the fluid & NEVER set the potassium bottle down. I always have another nurse watch & double check my calcs. I'm not a fan either!

[EmmaG, RN]

Years ago we did; now they are either premixed from the manufacturer or pharmacy does it. My ex-manager told me of a nurse she worked with in Texas who had an order changing the existing IV to the same fluids with KCl added. She injected it into the port of current running IVF and thus gave the patient a rapid bolus of K+... patient did not survive

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

When I first nursing we were doing this.

Yes, nurses are allowed per their license to do it.

However, the problem wasn't necessarily that we were bad at it, but having KCL vials llying around set us up for med errors and around the country a few deaths occurred when nurses drew up KCL thinking it was something else like saline.

It's now typical for pharmacy to do it, or to have pre-mixed bags from a manufacturer.

[catlover13]

Hi,

At my facility, a small rural hospital, we do mix KCL in IVF. Also mix IV antibiotic therapies.

It's been a great learning experience.

:paw:Can't resist the pawprint!!!

Catlover13

[SICU Queen]

Years ago it was very common for nurses to add it themselves... but nowadays it usually comes from pharmacy due to the fatal end result if it's administered incorrectly.

(Basically, what everyone else has mostly already said... hehe.)

[jlcole45]

Yes - just follow your facility's/floor's protocol and label it correctly.