Flush bag when giving IVP meds?

[carebear01, BSN, RN]

Do you use a flush bag when giving IVP meds when the patient is heplocked? I remember learning in school that you were never supposed to push IV meds (reglan, pepcid, lasix, pain meds) without connected the patient to a flush bag. That has always been my practice, but I'm just wondering the reasons behind doing so.

Thanks!

[guest64485]

As long as you slowly flush with NS afterwords, you don't need to use a flush bag.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

No you don't need a flush bag. We have premade NS flushes in 3ml and 10ml and I flush with that afterwords.

[meandragonbrett]

Nope. Dilute the med and chase it with a prefilled NS flush.

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

Flush with NS, give med, slow flush with NS. No need to hand a bag for IVPB meds.

[miss81, BSN, RN]

ditto to above posts...

[laurenicoleRN]

same here... look up the drug in a med book to make sure you need to dilute and how long to push it!

[sissyboo]

I'm with the others! Look up the med and be sure to dilute properly!

Flush, push med at correct rate, flush again using the same rate you did for the medication (there is still medication in the IV catheter).

I hang a flush bag with piggyback medications when the patient doesnt have fluids hanging continuously to follow up behind the medication so the patient gets all the medication instead of part of it being left in the tubing.

Hope this helps!

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I hang a flush bag with piggyback medications when the patient doesnt have fluids hanging continuously to follow up behind the medication so the patient gets all the medication instead of part of it being left in the tubing.

I used to do that until I was told that it was against P&P unless the physician had specifically ordered IVF. Silly, I know, but be sure to check your facility's P&P on that.

[Tolos]

"I used to do that until I was told that it was against P&P unless the physician had specifically ordered IVF. Silly, I know, but be sure to check your facility's P&P on that."

I work as an infusion nurse at a clinic, I noticed every IV tubing with a filter is about 25cc in length. After infusing a medication there is about 25cc of that medication that remains in the line only if you flush with 25 to 30cc isotonic normal saline solution will all the mdication be infused.

The only reason why you may:nurse: not want to run an IV solution to keep the vein open or to hydrate will be that some cardiac patient like CHF might be fluid overloaded. DANGER!!!

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

"I used to do that until I was told that it was against P&P unless the physician had specifically ordered IVF. Silly, I know, but be sure to check your facility's P&P on that."

I work as an infusion nurse at a clinic, I noticed every IV tubing with a filter is about 25cc in length. After infusing a medication there is about 25cc of that medication that remains in the line only if you flush with 25 to 30cc isotonic normal saline solution will all the mdication be infused.

The only reason why you may:nurse: not want to run an IV solution to keep the vein open or to hydrate will be that some cardiac patient like CHF might be fluid overloaded. DANGER!!!

Yes, I know. Still against P&P at my facility. That's why it's silly, IMO.