Insulin drip

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When you set up an insulin drip, how do you do it? I had another nurse help me set one up (the pt had a triple-lumen hickman) and we long-lined the insulin into her IV fluid (both on a pump), and then I piggy-backed her antibiotics, etc. into the IV fluid. When I signed out to the night nurse, she said that she would change the set-up so the insulin would be long-lined into a saline flush b/c the antibiotics may not be compatible with the insulin. It made sense, but I feel rotten about the way I left things. My husband said it was fine the way I had it. What do you all do in your facilities?

-Julie

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My facility requires insulin, heparin and albumin each to run on a separate pump. It's ok to piggback insulin with NS but I wouldn't run it with anything else. If I have a question about compatibilities, I just call the pharmacy because our med-room doesn't have one of those compatibility chart. Maybe because our med room is the size of a closet!!! :chuckle

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Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

We can piggyback insulin, heparin, protonix and albumin with NS but nothing else. Anything else we have to have seperate lines and pumps.

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Don't feel bad, you followed the advice you were given (in good faith); consider it a learning experience. Next time you'll know to check with the pharmacy, if you have a question (and you didn't have the question till the end of the shift, when the other nurse brought it up). :)

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Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

We typically run insulin (without filtered IV tubing and on a pump) by itself. If we have a sick patient with lots of drips, then we will call pharmacy and find the best way to put them all together depending on how may IV lines we have. Usually we keep the insulin alone if possible, but it is compatible with certain things.

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My facility requires insulin, heparin and albumin each to run on a separate pump. It's ok to piggback insulin with NS but I wouldn't run it with anything else. If I have a question about compatibilities, I just call the pharmacy because our med-room doesn't have one of those compatibility chart. Maybe because our med room is the size of a closet!!! :chuckle

same here.

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