IV Push

[Caleb_RN225]

Ughhhhhh I hate making mistakes when I'm going IV PUSH sometimes I lose count. Have this happen to y'all before.

[RNCEN]

Not sure what you're asking.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Lose count of what?

[BrooklynRN11201]

Maybe of the seconds/minutes you're supposed to push? I know nurses who push meds way too fast (like in 5 secs) but I don't even count, I just do it as slow as possible giving a few seconds between each advancement of the plunger. But even if it's ordered IVP, I never ever give certain meds that way for the sake of the patient - like Reglan, Morphine or Dilauded (if they are naive), or SoluMedrol! I inject the med in 50mL of NS and run it wide open.

[ADeks]

Narcotics I'll mix with 5ml of NS. I push each notch every 10-15 sec. If I lose count it's still pretty slow.

[LakeEmerald]

It doesn't have to be exact. Just slow enough. It really helps to drop narcs in a 50 ml bag of NS and drip in over time while doing other things in the room or nearby. And like Adeks said, adding it to al large flush makes it easier to push slow too. Also, infusing it into a line of running NS helps, drawing more saline nto your flush as you push helps dilute it in as it goes.