If it's infiltrated, restart it or at least try to

K O'Malley · Feb 5, 2003

Isn't removing an IV that you know to be infiltrated basic Nursing 101?

Furball · Feb 5, 2003

I've had an infiltrated IV as a kid and let me tell you...IT HURTS! This moron flushed with 125cc? HOW? Wouldn't there be resistance? This nurse NEEDS to be fired and her license seriously questioned.

renerian, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2003

Sad.....

renerian

night owl · Feb 6, 2003

OK. Read her nurses note and it stated that she gave 125cc NS bolus thru his GT. I didn't see any of this, but then why would she tell me after going to check it, "I got blood return in the tubing, but gave 125cc bolus flush to see what it would do...???" and she also said, "It's definately infiltrated." Also in her note she stated, "OD made aware." Never wrote his name, never wrote what time she called him....I'm wondering if she even called him at all for fear that he'd order another IV for her to start. After I knew she was going to be with this IV half the night, I suggested that she take that side so she wouldn't have to run back and forth so she took it and that freed me up from the responsibility of watching her everytime she went into his room messing with the IV. She told me yesterday before we went home that when the NP came in and she told her about the IV, NP said it was OK that she gave the bolus thru the GT. The IV was D/C'd and never restarted. The poor pt. looked like he was on his last legs when I saw him this morning. Responded by opening his eyes, but no verbal response. She is off tonight and says to me this morning..."I'm off tonight, aren't you going to miss me?" The nerve! I said, "We all miss you when you're off, but we'll enjoy you're two days off. I smiled, she smiled and I left.

{{{*sigh*}}} I'll be off two nights when she comes back. There is a God...Spoke to the HN about her and she said, Don't worry, she'll be out of here sooner than anyone thinks and keep that to yourself....nothing said about writing her up...yet, but it's all ready if and when she asks for it.

mattsmom81 · Feb 6, 2003

Sadly this kind of thing happens a lot and to many of us here, I'd bet. How many times have you received an edematous IV you know hasn't been checked for half a shift or more? Many nurses are just not good at IV's and pass the buck, and it is wrong.

My worst incident involving this practice was a patient on a Heparin gtt post procedure. I received the patient with a swollen IV and the nurse told me she had just turned it off and it had just gotten swollen. The patient looked at me and shook his head. I then asked her for the last PTT. She hemmed and hawed...said one was 'due' so I got a stat...and it showed no Heparin at all in his system. So...caught her in a big lie..could have been detrimental to the patient. Hadda write it up although I don't like to do this.

We don't like to but when nurses can hurt patients we have to be professional. This kind of stuff is different than an accidental error, IMO, and needs immediate addressing.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2007

My coworker hates IV's and never starts or restarts them if needed. She used to have another nurse on another unit come over and start them for her, but this other person is no longer available. Last night one of my pts had an IV due to dehydration. Upon making rounds I observed that the IV site was very edemetous. Turned off the IV and reported this to my coworker. She checked it out, but didn't restart it. Instead she flushed it with 125cc (?) of NS "To see what would happen" as she stated. Of course the arm became more edemetous, but she still didn't remove it or restart it. Shouldn't she have tried at least? Instead she left it for the next shift to deal with. Would this be considered a med error of some kind? Neglect? I'm thinking, "Gee, maybe you ought to hang yourself up on that IV pole........by your neck!" What's your opinion?

I hope she is never my nurse. The nurse has a legal obligation to provide the standard of care an do what a prudent nurse would do in that circumstance, first a reasonable attempt should have been made to restart this iv and resume the prescribed therapies. If this nurse felt ill-equiped to do so she should have reported it to her immediate supervisor so that the pts needs were met.... worst case scenario noone can place a line md must be notified and all communication must be documented. I would report this instance to her supervisor this was poor judgementand poor nursing care and yes the nurse is responsible...and did not follow your protocol......she squeeks by hoping nothing will happen yikes someone take her down so she can get some more training these stories make me mad hospitals need iv teams just because ypu have rn behind your name doed not mean suddenly you can start an iv i know on iv team for 22 years iam great at it and yet many many days it is still to this day a challenge i cant immagine the stress of not having this skill i rescue nurses every day

allnurses Guide · Aug 30, 2007

I was going to respond to this thread, but then looked and HELLO! It's four years old!!!

Oh well, I'll respond anyway... geez louise, I would at least take out the IV! At LEAST! Then if I didn't feel like I could restart it (no time, or whatever), and there wasn't anyone else who could restart it, I'd have to leave it for the next shift.

Before I did that though, I'd assess whether or not perhaps the IV could just be left out, and then call the doctor and ask if it could be left out.