Infusion spike

[guilty]

The spike on my infusion set accidentaly had contact with my clean gloves while I was preparing a packed rbc to be transfused. But instead of changing the infusion set I still transfused the bag with the same infusion set. Now I'm feeling guilty. Have you ever experienced this? What should I do?

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

What should have been done is this: the contaminated IV tubing should have been thrown away, and new tubing obtained to spike the bag. When IN DOUBT, throw it out!

The spike is a "No touch" zone... so if it touches something other then the inside of the IV bag, it is considered contaminated. Would you want me to hook that unit of cells up to your IV catheter?

[guilty]

No excuses I know what I should've done but I didn't do it. Now I'm feeling guilty.

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

As long as that guilt, causes a change in behavior, you'll remember next time, and patient care won't be compromised. YAY.