f/c irrigation

Nurses General Nursing

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Just a quick question . I always thought you needed an order to irrigate a f/c. Other nurse says no. What is the correct answer?

Thanks for taking time to answer.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

yes you need an order to irrigate a foley cath. it's a invasive procedure into a sterile area... so i would always get and order.

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Part of foley care in home health is to irrigate when needed, no order necessary. And I always irrigated in the ER without an order. I guess it's just the nature of the specialties. I know that many places require an order for epidermal lido for venipunctures, but in ERs it's standard.

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Specializes in ED/trauma.

I think if you're just "flushing" w/ a 10cc syringe of normal saline (sterile, of course) to make sure it's patent, you don't need an order. We do that on the floor occasionally. If you're running a continuous irrigation (CBI), that definitely needs an order -- though these are different as the former is a simple nursing intervention, while the latter is an ordered "procedural" intervention.

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I think if you're just "flushing" w/ a 10cc syringe of normal saline (sterile, of course) to make sure it's patent, you don't need an order. We do that on the floor occasionally. If you're running a continuous irrigation (CBI), that definitely needs an order -- though these are different as the former is a simple nursing intervention, while the latter is an ordered "procedural" intervention.

10cc of NS isn't going to get you great results...........

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Go by what your Doctor orders or what your procedure manual say do. Don't "guess."

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

At the facility I work for an RN can irrigate a foley cath without a doctor's order. As a matter of fact most doctors will ask you if you irrigated it before calling him/her.

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Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
10cc of NS isn't going to get you great results...........

Oh, you'd be suprised... 10ml will get you great results in a 3kg baby.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.
At the facility I work for an RN can irrigate a foley cath without a doctor's order. As a matter of fact most doctors will ask you if you irrigated it before calling him/her.

Is it written down?

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