Flushing JP Drain

AJJKRN · May 27, 2015

Of the many JP drains I have taken care of, I have never had to flush them nor have I seen ones with stopcocks. We only strip them with an alcohol wipe to keep the line patent. The only drains I've had to flush are accordian drains. Maybe you have the names mixed up.

So are you aware that JP is just the initials of the brand right? So is this not what we're taking about...I'm keeping an open mind that it is if only because I haven't worked everywhere and seen every drain...what if you're talking about an axion drain which is fairly different? Just my friendly observation at 0400 :sleep: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8qGni2VVizMAkUqInIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTIyOWY3aDZoBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZANjZWQ5YmM3NzE1MGI5NGJmOTFlOTIwOTFlMzJhMDc5NARncG9zAzEEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Djackson%2Bpratt%2Bdrain%26fr%3Diphone%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=550&h=550&imgurl=infinitimedical.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F05%2FJP-Drains.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Finfinitimedical.com%2Fproducts%2Fjackson-pratt-drains%2F&size=87.5KB&name=+%3Cb%3Ejackson+pratt%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3Edrains%3C%2Fb%3E+the+%3Cb%3Ejackson%3C%2Fb%3E&p=jackson-pratt+drain&oid=ced9bc77150b94bf91e92091e32a0794&fr2=piv-web&fr=iphone&rw=jackson-pratt+drain&tt=+%3Cb%3Ejackson+pratt%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3Edrains%3C%2Fb%3E+the+%3Cb%3Ejackson%3C%2Fb%3E&b=0&ni=21&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11p95clq9&sigb=139gb0rv7&sigi=11s4ec6mc&sigt=11m1mj0u2&sign=11m1mj0u2&.crumb=9DoWcwiBQrV&fr=iphone&fr2=piv-web

Asystole721 · May 27, 2015

I have had JP's with MD orders to flush. I do know what a JP is and certainly am not mixed up or confused about the type of drain. Different docs do things different ways apparently.

NurseQT · May 27, 2015

I've never seen orders to flush a JP drain before, not saying it isn't possible tho. I didn't realize that the bulb could actually be removed from the tubing!! When I worked in acute care we had a lot of drains in our fresh post ops and it was a common practice to strip the drains at least qshift. Now that I work in LTC we have very few people admitted with drains and no one ever knows what I mean when I talk about stripping the drain tubing!

I would think if you're seeing a lot of patients come to your unit with orders to flush their drain then your managers need to get a P&P in place and have some education for the nurses..

For the post a few back about the drain names.. The JP is the Jackson Pratt drain, it's the bulb shaped drain. It's named after the two Drs that invented it. The Hemovac drain is the accordion style drain that also uses negative pressure. I haven't seen a Hemovac used since I worked in the hospital which was a long time ago, not even sure if those are used much anymore.

brownbook · May 27, 2015

17:00 am by NurseQT

I've never seen orders to flush a JP drain before, not saying it isn't possible tho. I didn't realize that the bulb could actually be removed from the tubing!

Nothing to do with the posted question...I just have to re tell my JP drain story. I was teaching a patient and their family JP drain care. I was showing them how to strip the tube and the tubing broke...I was holding two (unconnected) ends of the JP drain. I was so shocked and embarrassed and panicky.....my first thought was..."the surgeon is going to kill me...the patient will have to go back to OR." Well...that is how I found out the bulb can be removed from the tubing. Luckily when I settled down I realized I could pull the tubing off the bulb, and reattach the bulb to the tubing still coming from the patient. (Yes I wiped everything with alcohol wipes before attaching.)

The family took it well, I manage to hide my feelings well....outside I stayed cool and calm. Now whenever I send a patient home with a JP I tell them what to do if that happens at home.

(It must have been an old tube....I have the weakest hand and arm strength!)

Dranger · May 27, 2015

I have flushed JP drains with stopcocks before. It's not common but I have seen "Flush drain Qshift 10ml NS"

macawake, MSN · May 27, 2015

How do we flush a JP Drain?
I want to know the procedure? If anyone has done it please reply. Thanks

OP, I know from reading your previous posts that you are a new nurse working in a subacute rehab facility. You've asked several questions on how to do various procedures. I realize that AN can be a great resource to nurses, new as well as old,

but I have to say that I feel a bit concerned when I read some of your posts.

Many of the things you ask about should have facility specific protocols that should be followed. Also, many of the questions are the type that a more senior nurse colleague should be able to help answer. Are you in a supportive environment where you have access to more experienced coworkers who can help guide, advise and mentor you?

I get the feeling that you might not have the support a new nurse needs or not for whatever reason be comfortable asking the people you work with.

I hope you're not taking the advice of anonymous internet posters (who may or may not know what they're talking about and whose advice may or may not be the same as your own facility's policy) on how to for example flush a JP drain, handle a wound vac, administering meds via PEG tube or aspirating air bubbles from IV lines.

AN is an excellent sounding board but you need to find out through proper channels what the policy and regulations are in your facility. And when doing a procedure for the first time you need to read up on it and in my opinion have someone there who's familiar with the procedure for support.

Best wishes OP!

mugs · May 27, 2015

Thanks I just wanted the information. I am an overcautious nurse. I wont do anything without getting physician's order or checking facility protocol. I just wanted to know as I heard of Jackson Pratt could be flushed. My rationale was if the drain is to drain the fluids from the wound why does it need to be flushed?

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · May 27, 2015

I've never seen a JP with a stopcock either! I'm fascinated. :) I would assume if you had the stop cock you would irrigate/flush just like you would an accordion drain (which is what we routinely have orders to flush with 10 of NS).

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · May 27, 2015

We have JP drains with stopcocks on my floor. If ordered; I flush 5 mL towards the patient and 5 mL towards the drain. Also, wipe the port with an alcohol swab first.

Mr. Murse · May 28, 2015

Thanks I just wanted the information. I am an overcautious nurse. I wont do anything without getting physician's order or checking facility protocol. I just wanted to know as I heard of Jackson Pratt could be flushed. My rationale was if the drain is to drain the fluids from the wound why does it need to be flushed?

Because bodily fluids tend to clot. Which is why we strip JP drains, and apparently, some facilities will flush them too.

I think we're all talking bout the same drain when we say "JP". "accordion drain" is a little more vague, seeing that at my hospital we have at least two drains I can think of (hemovac and truclose) that use an accordion-like set up for suction.

ak2190 · May 28, 2015

We flush JP (and other) drains on my unit, most recent example being a JP draining a pancreatic abscess. Orders were to flush with 10 cc NS q8 hours. We simple unhook the bulb, wipe the line and flush with a sterile syringe.

BiotoBSNtoFNP · May 28, 2015

I have seen (and completed!) orders to flush JP drains with 10ccNS qshift. We do not have to stop cocks on the floor but instead just disconnect the bulb from the tubing, flush, then reattach.

The worst is when you have butter fingers and cant disconnect the bulb without great difficulty in front if the patient!