How do all of you document when running an amnioinfusion?

[mother/babyRN, RN]

was just wondering what some of the similarities and differences are in the way we all document when an amnioinfusion is running..how often, what you see in terms of fluid coming out, etc....do your facilities have specific documentation policies just for amnioinfusions, or do you just document what you see as long as one is running? and, do you have a limit as to how long one may be run? just curious and would like to compare. we don't have a vast influx of patients requiring them ( although i now feel compelled to mention that i probably have just jinxed myself in that regard) :) if you have a few moments, i would enjoy and appreciate your thoughts and observations...i'll even pass them on to my peers and our chief ob so we can put some policies together, hopefully..thanks! :)

[mark_LD_RN]

we do not currently have a written policy but we do require a consent form. we document q30min what going in and what is coming out and oral temp. more frequent charting depending on condition and if pt on pit.

[mother/babyRN, RN]

Thanks Mark, I appreciate your imput, as always...We do not require a consent form but that sounds like a good idea, especially with the problems that could potentially occur. I will pass that on...Thanks again...

[Andrew_LandD]

At our hospital, we dont have a procedure per se for documentation. But we do document procedure start/stop time, solution type, return visualization, etc.

Andrew

[OB4ME]

Some of our doctors order a bolus first...some order it to be stopped after that, some order a continuous rate. So, of course you'd have to document when rate changes occur. I like to use a pump for my amnios. So, I always chart that.

Also, running an amnio is contraindicated if there are late decels...so make sure that it is indicated, and that such is charted as well.

[mother/babyRN, RN]

Thanks everyone. When we see (usually) particulate mec we like to "encourage" the docs to do an amnioinfusion. We infuse ns via warmer pump and imed, and generally give a 300cc bolus with a fixed rate after that. We document all that but I always feel leery doing things without a fixed policy in place. For instance, how do I document a large amount of fluid return on a chux? My perception of large might be another's medium, etc. I encourage people to relate the size of the spot on the chux thats returned. I appreciate everyones info and as always, thanks so much for taking the time to speak to the subject...

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Our policy says to weigh the Chux.