IV infusion

If you have access to Lexi-comp at the hospital, use that. I use it daily for all my meds (not just IV). As a student did have access to it. Check that out.

Thank you RoseQueen,

I get the rates and calculations, but some ivs are not compatible at all to infuse at the same time, some are compatible if you choose different sites, or flush before or after.... different rates.... Thank you for your tips about finding the information faster.

Thank you, I will definitely check that out.

IV medications can be daunting but when you are working on a floor you will give the same 5 medications constantly, 10 more frequently and maybe another 10 regularly. You first will become very familiar with where in the book they are located and then you will simply learn what most of their compatibilities are.

I personally used two different digital infusion drug books on my phone, stick with well-known book titles. Makes looking up multiple medications easier and faster.

We use Microdermex at my job

I just Googled "IV compatibility" and got several apps, pdf files, and sites.

My hospital has Lexicomp and Micromedex linked from out eMAR. You click on IV compatibility, type in the list of drugs, and have instant compatibility info for each pair within that list.

Years ago all of our medical rooms had a big chart with drugs across the top and down the left -- you find drug #1 on one list, drug #2 on the other, see where they intersect and will tell you if it's compatible, not, insufficient info, etc. You could ask the hospital pharmacist about getting a printout of that kind of tool.

Thank you.

It shouldn't take but a few minutes to look up compatibilities in a drug guide (Davis's being the gold standard, imo).

Generally speaking, antibiotics have limited compatibilities, particularly with one another, which isn't a big deal since it's generally preferable not to run antibiotics simultaneously so that, in the event of a reaction, you know to what the patient is reacting.

It shouldn't take but a few minutes to look up compatibilities in a drug guide (Davis's being the gold standard, imo).

Generally speaking, antibiotics have limited compatibilities, particularly with one another, which isn't a big deal since it's generally preferable not to run antibiotics simultaneously so that, in the event of a reaction, you know to what the patient is reacting.

I agree. I love my Davis guide! The drug guides can be overwhelming when you first start BUT (as with anything) the more you use it the easier/quicker it becomes. We have Lexicomp on our computers and also IV books in the med room, but I've used my own drug guide enough that I can quickly find what I need. Admittedly I am a book-in-hand kinda gal...I work nights and we have no pharmacy there after 21:00 and then there are those lovely nights when our computer systems are down for updates and we don't have access to online sources.

I agree. I love my Davis guide! The drug guides can be overwhelming when you first start BUT (as with anything) the more you use it the easier/quicker it becomes. We have Lexicomp on our computers and also IV books in the med room, but I've used my own drug guide enough that I can quickly find what I need. Admittedly I am a book-in-hand kinda gal...I work nights and we have no pharmacy there after 21:00 and then there are those lovely nights when our computer systems are down for updates and we don't have access to online sources.

Thank you.