Ever caught a visitor playing with an IV pump??

Published

The other night I caught a teenage visitor pressing the "silence" button on the IV pump because (in his words: "It was annoying!"). I explained to him that the when the alarm goes off I need to come in the room to figure out why it was beeping in the first place. The visitor argued with me about it and said that he has done it before and the other nurses didn't say anything!! I told him that he is not allowed to touch the pump and to call me if it ever beeps. There's more to come later....

What would YOU do??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

Clarification?? This was a VISITOR, not a patient, right??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I'm a student so take what I say with a grain of salt. I'm just thinking off the top of my head. You attempted to educate the teen visitor. He remained defiant. That's unacceptable. I'd start wondering what else he might do.

What about requiring a parent or other adult to be with the teen in order to visit? Seems to me he lost the *privilege* to visit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This happens all the time where I work>iwork Pedi and parents always hate beeping (*and pumps need to be reset q 2 h per our policy) and some have learned how to operate the darn things. Our PCA pumps have away to lock and unlock the keypad to prevent these sorts from messing w the pump (*ie clearing it ect, they cant change dose w o key) but I've have IVS clot off because I was very busy in another room and had no idea my pump was beeping

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Our IV pumps have a hidden lock. I have had to ask people to not manage the pumps before, but never had anyone be noncompliant. And, chart it and notify, of course.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, but I've never had one be defiant after explaining why the alarm needed to be allowed to go off. I think I'd be denying that teen any more visits, in the interest of patient safety!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yep, also had visitors adjusting the O2. (One time even adjusting the O2 on a COPDer.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Clarification?? This was a VISITOR, not a patient, right??

Yep, it was a visitor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have turn my IV off when it has been going off for 30 mins.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I ended up educating the teenager (he's 18) as to the many reasons why he should NEVER touch the IV pump. He proceded to argue with me and I finally said "I am no longer arguing with you. Either you leave the pump alone or I call security." He went silent and agreed.

I then filled out a QAR form, emailed both managers regarding this, AND charted the incident with the visitor in the patient's chart in case down the road more issues occur.

Different patient: I once had a patient family member turn up the Low wall suction on an NG tube to full suction!!!!! I educated him on that, and what did he tell me..."I am familiar with suction, we use it at the construction site!" WHAT??? Thank goodness that the patient was not harmed!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have turn my IV off when it has been going off for 30 mins.

Did you call your nurse to let them know it was beeping?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Our IV pumps have a hidden lock. I have had to ask people to not manage the pumps before, but never had anyone be noncompliant. And, chart it and notify, of course.

We use the Abbott Plum Pumps. I'll have to find out if we have a feature like this one them!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion