IV pump readouts

jemb · Feb 28, 2004

To answer this, we'd have to know what make and model of pump is used by the facility. Some facilities will even use different pumps on different units.

Your instructor is your best resource for this.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2004

Yep depends on the pump you use. I never go off the pump reading tho.. unless you clear it at the start of you shift and at the end... sometimes the previous nurses haven't cleared it for shifts.

Anniekins · Mar 2, 2004

I have been taught to zero it out at the end of each shift.......however, if its going at 125cc/hr, you can multiply that by 8, and know that is 1000cc in. If a 50 cc piggy back was hung.....etc, add that to the iv inupt. I hope that helps

dianacs · Mar 2, 2004

I'm a student too and I'm still wary of IV pumps. There are so many different ones out there! If you feel awkward asking your instructor, is there another student or friendly nurse you can ask? Lately I've been writing things down as I'm being shown how to do them. That seems to help, since it's hard to remember everything from one clinical to the next. Good luck!

allnurses Guide · Mar 2, 2004

Our IV pumps are not consistently "cleared" at the end of each shift so I just calculate the hourly drip rate myself. Just remember when you hang a piggyback you have to calculate the rate the piggyback ran at and not include the primary IV, which is not running while the piggyback is. So, if you have a primary IV running at 75 ml/hr and you stop it for a PB, which goes in at 100 ml/hr . . . don't include the 75 ml/hr in your calculations.

I'd never trust the pump . . not because of the pump but because of human error.

steph