IV infusion

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Hello,

Question to the nurses and/or student nurses with experience. As part of assignment, we are suppose to figure out compatibility on iv meds and infusion time/site/rate when patient is on several different iv meds. What is the best way to find needed information for students efficiently. Especially when completing homework where you do not have hospital iv machines to put info in? also if you are in hospital settings, I tried iv infusion books, but it seems it takes a long time to find needed information, is there a better way to find the info? My instructor said it should not take me more then 10 minutes to look up 5-6 iv meds, but it did take me a lot longer...Any advice would be appreciated.

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.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
We use Microdermex at my job

I worship Micromedex! When I have tons of drips and ABX it is a nurses best friend. The last thing I want is my line turning into crystal. I would die LOL.

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Your instructor should be the one informing you of the best way to find needed information. Is that not why they are called "instructors"?

In the future... you would use the hospital approved sources... and ONLY the hospital approved sources. Using any other source will hang you out to dry.

P.S. Pharmacy is there to be your main resource. Always start with a consult to pharmacy.

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I worship Micromedex! When I have tons of drips and ABX it is a nurses best friend. The last thing I want is my line turning into crystal. I would die LOL.

Micromedex is an excellent source, not all hospitals approve it. If you have crystallization in the line, you will not be the one dying.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

we have LexiComp

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

There are incompatibilities that will NOT produce a precipitate but nonetheless are still have therapeutic incompatibilities, So do not think all is OK if you do not see a precipitate. If you are working Med surg you will often have some primary IVF,maybe with some potassium in it and you will be administering IV antibiotics as a piggyback. Then all you have to find out is if the antibiotic is compatible with the potassium. I like [h=1]2016 Intravenous Medications: A Handbook for Nurses and Health Professionals, 32e 32nd Edition[/h]

by Betty L. Gahart RN (Author), Adrienne R. Nazareno PharmD (Author)

The absolute best IV mediation book. You can use it to look up compatibilities but is is great to learn everything about about the any IV drug

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the Nursing Student Assistance forum.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Micromedex is an excellent source, not all hospitals approve it. If you have crystallization in the line, you will not be the one dying.

Who then? The patient? I've never had a crystallized line and don't know what happens in this instance.

Micromedex is approved by my facility is there's even a link in our MAR system.

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Thank you

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