flushing IV tubing between medications

athena55, BSN, RN · May 28, 2009

After one IV medication has been completed, and the tubing sits,
still attached to the minibag, then is the tubing or just the saline lock
supposed to be flushed before the next medication is started?
If the medications are compatible - then it seem to be okay to flush
only the lock.
If the medications are incompatible - then would different tubing be used?

If you don't have any maintenance fluid running, (either KVO or faster), then you would just use the tubing that was used before, of course making sure that you flush it. Each IV tubing that you use for your antibiotics, anti fungals, proton pump inhibitors etc should be used for that specific medication and discarded after the 72 hours (or what ever policy your hospital adheres to)

If you have a "hep lock" then you would flush the IV and aseptically attach your IVPB bag. After the infusion is finished you would disconnect the IVPB and cap it until the next time the tubing is used, and again flush the IV port to maintain patency.

Your specific hospital or MTF should have a policy and procedure for that.

I hope this answers your question

allnurses Guide · May 28, 2009

You don't use the same minibag tubing for different drugs, they are dedicated to the one medication only. Each different antibiotic (etc.) gets its own tubing.

A running maintainance solution should be enough to flush the main tubing between piggybacks, if you aren't using one then disconnect the minibag tubing from the saline lock and flush the lock.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 28, 2009

after one iv medication has been completed, and the tubing sits,still attached to the minibag, then is the tubing or just the saline lock supposed to be flushed before the next medication is started?

the saline lock--always.

if the medications are compatible - then it seem to be okay to flushonly the lock.

why take a chance? if your facility wants to save money and not have the nurses discard tubings so frequently then, yes, you can sandwich the solution remaining in the line with saline.

if the medications are incompatible - then would different tubing be used?

absolutely!

Dave the nurse · May 29, 2009

Always follow your hospitals policy. Patient safty is always first. Follow a sash protocol were indicated. But remember when in dought through it out. Change your lines and keep it safe.