Infusion question

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2018

Ivana, Usually the reason patients have two IV catheters in at once is either to administer incompatible meds or to use the other one if the first one fails. I would definitely move the medication to the patent line.

Ivana rn · Mar 23, 2018

Thanks! That is what I normally do. However, recently an Infusion Nurse told me that I couldn't just switch the medication to the other site. She said that I would have to discard all the IV fluids/medication that had been infusing and the IV tubing and replace it with a new bag of IV fluids/medication and new IV tubing. The IV infusion had only been hanging for a very short time and the infusion med cost over $1500. It seemed that I shouldn't have to discard it but rather just move it to the other site. She said that IV Infusion Nursing standards did not permit this as she said it increased infection risk. What's your take on this?

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2018

The concept of a "virgin line" or not being able to give the drug the way you discussed is only applicable if the reason you are needing to switch sites is because of infection. If the first line became infected, yes everything is pitched, and a new set up should be established.

Ivana rn · Mar 24, 2018

Thanks! The first site was not infected. It was just not patent. I would have understood if it had been infected. I really appreciate your response.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2018

YES IVRUS is correct.Just make sure you keep the end of the primary tubing sterile and make sure rhe needleless connector had a port protector on it or you scrub it with IPA.