Published Jul 2, 2008
Deeks0
22 Posts
The question is How does a nurse maintain a heparin lock or iv-lock? I know this is a dumb question, but its due for my class which starts soon. I though maybe reg the infusion, change fluids and tubing, but if its a lock wouldn't i just assess the skin around it? Somebody anybody!! PLEASE
casi, ASN, RN
2,063 Posts
What about flushing the lock every so often to check and maintain patency.
Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
saline locks or heparin locks (once called heparin wells) are merely peripherally placed iv devices that have no iv tubings or iv solutions continuously attached to them. they are iv cannulas that are capped. in order to maintain their patency (freely open and functional) they must be (1) capped off, and (2) primed with a solution to prevent blood from entering the shaft of the cannula of the iv device and clotting it off so it looses its patency. saline and weak solutions of heparin are used to accomplish this.
maintenance includes regularly monitoring and caring for the iv site and the equipment attached to it in order to avoid complications (infection, phlebitis, infiltration).
[*]the iv device should be removed and placed in another location if there is any evidence of pain, tenderness, phlebitis or infiltration
[*]the iv device should be removed and placed in another location after 72 hours (this is an ins standard)
[*]a dressing should only be changed if it is soiled, wet or the iv site is being changed. disturbing the dressing that was placed at the time the iv was inserted increases the likelihood of phlebitis occurring and the introduction of bacteria. ivs should not be remaining in place longer than 72 hours.
[*]the changing of the cap on the device is usually done at the time of a dressing change. it can be changed if it is gunky with blood. remember it is a point at which bacteria can be introduced into the patient so it should be a sterile procedure. to prevent backflow of blood from soiling everything, place a sterile 2x2 below the hub of the cannula and using the finger of one hand place pressure over the vein at the point where the tip of the end of the cannula will be seated in the patient's vein. this will occlude backflow of blood into the cannula as you remove the old cap. make sure the new cap is tightened sufficiently. flush.
[*]a saline or heparin lock should be flushed on a regular basis to maintain its patency. every facility will have a protocol for flushing the saline lock. flushing the lock is how you maintain the patency of the device. documentation of flushing is usually done on the mar (medication administration record)
iv and central line catheter flush policy xyz hospital
sas - saline - antibiotic (or other medication) - saline
references: intravenous therapy: clinical principles and practice, by judy terry, leslie baranowski, rose anne lonsway and carolyn hedrick, published by the intravenous nurses society, 1995; nurse's 5-minute clinical consult: procedures from lippincott williams & wilkins.
the ins (intravenous nurse's society) writes the standards for iv therapy and most facilities try to follow them. facilities have policies and procedures that usually reflect these standards as do most nursing textbooks that address iv therapy.
here is an online example of one hospital's policy on how saline/heparin locks are to be maintained:
you can also see a video of how an iv is converted to a saline lock on this website: http://saddleback.edu/alfa/vid_index.aspx
both of the above websites were found from the links posted on this sticky thread in the nursing student assistance forum: https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/any-good-iv-therapy-nursing-procedure-web-sites-127657.html - any good iv therapy or nursing procedure web sites