Hi All, I've been doing something the same way for years but now I'm not sure it's needed.
When IV solution is discontinued and patient is to just have saline lock, I've been unplugging the IV line and flushing the remaining saline lock tubing with 2.5 cc of normal saline. The lock is then flushed q8hours.
Recently a new employee said if the IV running was normal saline, there is no need to flush the lock when converting to saline lock, just turn off the IV and unplug the tubing.
I have not been able to find any documentation supporting this. What do you folks know about this? Can you tell me what is current practice?
I hate to keep doing things just because "We always do it that way". Gotta know why!
Bella RN, BSN, MSN
264 Posts
I always flush with saline as well so I won't lose the line. It doesn't hurt and it allows me reassurance to know the line is still patent.