How do you saline-lock? / What is saline-locking?

Shagce1 · Jul 17, 2016

My question is what kind of nursing school and clinical sites did you attend where you don't know how to do this??

The OP may very well know how to do this and doesn't realize it. Is it possible he/she learned it as different terminology? Not all clinical rotations give the same opportunities. I actually had very little exposure to IV's in general during my clinicals. Just the luck of the draw on the days I was there. Does that mean I went to an inferior school or am an inferior nurse? Yes, the OP should ask at work, but who knows, maybe he or she has been belittled for asking questions at work and is now feeling intimidated.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

What in the world kind of nursing school doesn't teach this??

Many nursing schools. A lot of places it's not even called a "saline lock" anymore. That's why OP needs to ask at work. I know it to mean two different things. I am also brand new. I picked up the term at a couple different clinical sites, but was sshown two different methods. My school never taught the term, nor does my current job use it.

TriciaJ, RN · Jul 18, 2016

You must have had some sort of orientation to your unit. No good asking us, because hospitals use different brands of equipment which require different ways to do things. So just ask someone where you work. You might feel stupid having to ask (we have all been there). But the really stupid person is the one who doesn't ask, just tries to wing it. It's hard for us to help you when we don't know what kind of IV tubing you are using. So just find someone who looks receptive, and ASK.

rnccf2007, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

You must have had some sort of orientation to your unit. No good asking us, because hospitals use different brands of equipment which require different ways to do things. So just ask someone where you work. You might feel stupid having to ask (we have all been there). But the really stupid person is the one who doesn't ask, just tries to wing it. It's hard for us to help you when we don't know what kind of IV tubing you are using. So just find someone who looks receptive, and ASK.

To OP and all new nurses...the scariest nurses are the ones who don't ask questions when they are unsure of what they are doing. I remember how hard it was for me, as a brand-new nurse, to ask questions; oftentimes because some nurses can just be plain mean, especially to new nurses. But, I always asked questions...even if I knew I would have to endure snarkasim (yes know it is not a word). I still bounce questions off other nurses and they do the same with me....nobody can know everything. Think about this...why do docs consult other docs?' My best advice is to take a good look around your unit...and you will get the feel for other nurses who (don't forget where they started from) and will love to educate you. And...don't forget when you become an experienced nurse to pass it on. BTW, saline lock (aka hep lock) means the IV or central line has no fluids running through it. Caps and tubing vary by facility.

AllenH · Jul 18, 2016

Congratulations on becoming "a new nurse"! Saline lock simply refers to keeping an IV start patent by flushing it with normal saline or heparin depending on your order and the policies/procedures of your place of work. You may have been doing this and just are unfamiliar with the terminology. This is a basic skill that is easily learned and once you have done it a few times you will be fine. You really need to have a mentor or preceptor at work help you so that you can stay within the realm of your hospital policies / standards and best safe practices. For instance, some places require that INTs be flushed every 8 hours while others it is once a shift. You also might want to review infection control related to IV therapy as well. Great question, just know that there is and should be a lot of help available to you to be able to learn /practice safely at work.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

How did you not learn this most basic of skills in nursing school? This frightens me!

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

How did you not learn this most basic of skills in nursing school? This frightens me!

Im sure she did learn how. That term is not used a ton anymore. I flushed maybe, once in nursing school after giving an IV med. We were not taught what to do when they were not in use but kept for later use. The term I've recently learned is capping. I have yet to see any that use heparin in them. I guess the newest research from what I have been told is to it use Heparin anymore for lines.

If it's not on NCLEX, schools don't teach it. That goes for clinical as well.

I do agree that you need to constantly ask questions. Constantly.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

The OP may very well know how to do this and doesn't realize it. Is it possible he/she learned it as different terminology?

The terminology I learned this skill under was 'saline well' or a 'hep lock.'

How did you not learn this most basic of skills in nursing school?

I did not learn this skill in nursing school, either. :)

Maerzie · Jul 18, 2016

Whenever any unknown procedure or piece of equipment comes up, ask your D.O.N., or an experienced co-worker, to demonstrate and watch you accomplish same, before the need arises and you are alone. When I first started my practice, even CPR wasn't invented yet, so many new procedures or equipment will arise, if you practice for years. Usually, when something is new to everyone, there will be an Inservice Instruction.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Jul 18, 2016

The OP may very well know how to do this and doesn't realize it. Is it possible he/she learned it as different terminology? Not all clinical rotations give the same opportunities. I actually had very little exposure to IV's in general during my clinicals. Just the luck of the draw on the days I was there. Does that mean I went to an inferior school or am an inferior nurse? Yes, the OP should ask at work, but who knows, maybe he or she has been belittled for asking questions at work and is now feeling intimidated.

I was thinking similar. Like when we say "cap the IV" and there is no actual cap to place on it because there is a clave or other valve there that provides the seal. For years we would call it "heparin cap" or "heparin lock" or even "heplock" and, totally no heparin (or locking? what is that, even?) was involved..."CIV" short for capped IV when there was no "cap".

I have a feeling the OP has flushed one or more capped IV's with sterile NS flush before and is just unfamiliar with the terminology.

How do you look up the P&P in your facility without having the exact words to do so? That's where friendly coworkers come in.

As for the snark here, that is disappointing and quite frankly embarrassing. I'd like AN to be a safe place.

NotYourMamasRN · Jul 18, 2016

The OP may very well know how to do this and doesn't realize it. Is it possible he/she learned it as different terminology? Not all clinical rotations give the same opportunities. I actually had very little exposure to IV's in general during my clinicals. Just the luck of the draw on the days I was there. Does that mean I went to an inferior school or am an inferior nurse? Yes, the OP should ask at work, but who knows, maybe he or she has been belittled for asking questions at work and is now feeling intimidated.

I was thinking the same. I thing this might be a terminology issue, not a skills issue.

CKPM2RN, ASN, EMT-P · Jul 18, 2016

My question is what kind of nursing school and clinical sites did you attend where you don't know how to do this??

And the nursing boards are suspect of Excelsior's students! I have a friend who sent his daughter to a private college BSN program. She graduated, with honors. Couldn't start and IV, didn't know how.