Fluid Management During shortage

[MCHRN13]

In lieu of recent events we are all experiencing shortages on hospital fluids for IV's, procedures, etc. 

   We have had many agency staff doing things very different regarding fluid management and are wondering what other facilities are doing. 

For example, if you are finishing a cystoscopy case, and there is a great deal of fluid left in the irrigation bag, would you spike the IV to it rather than spiking a new IV bag? Same for Orthopedic irrigations, arthroscopies, pulse lavage, etc. 

Most of us older staff find it unheard of, but we are hearing its occurrences with the national shortages. 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I've never heard of that, and if the bag is specifically labeled for irrigation, then it can have larger particulate matter than fluids labeled for injection. Unless there is guidance from the manufacturer, I wouldn't do it.

[offlabel]

Aside from the facts that they're frequently 3 liter bags and and often are not even physiologically suitable for IV administration (sterile water, glycine, sorbitol), someone would have do be out of their mind to do something like that...

[RickyRescueRN, BSN, RN]

Only be guided and practice according to your specific institutions policies and not by what agency staff are telling you is being done elsewhere. Your license is at stake, not to mention the life of your patient . Always follow MFU's and hospital policy and if unsure ask your manager or director.

[offlabel]

RickyRescueRN said:

 Always follow MFU's and hospital policy and if unsure ask your manager or director.

And when all else fails, use common sense.

[Avonlea]

if I were a patient, and I found out you put the cystoscopy fluids into my veins, I'd probably kill you.

[Avonlea]

Dear God, what kind of fresh madness is this?