IV question-air and tubing

Up2nogood RN, RN · Sep 14, 2009

It sounds like you're running the primary bag totally dry, thus getting air in the line and it's kicking over to the secondary? Hard to say though b/c brands of pumps work differently. I'm sure there is someone where you work that you could ask?

K+MgSO4, BSN · Sep 14, 2009

try pausing the infusion clamping off the line at all available points and dont load the pump with "volune to be infused 1000ml" because you have to prime the line etc. If the vol was set at say 950ml it will beep and you can change it before it is sucked dry because the pump is a machine and will only do exactly what it is told to do.

Plus most pumps when they start beeping also try to KVO (keep vein open) by infusing a small ammount of fluid sloooooowly.

Try talking to your ward educator ot if the hospital has an equipment nurse.

Speaking up at work is important because nurses talk!! Your manager may be asking other nurses "does she ask for help?" It is the sign of a good nurse to know when to ask for help. no-one is expected to know everything. Good luck

K

Charmander · Sep 15, 2009

first the easy question.... that tube left to the patient so you can change out? about 3 - 6 inches long? Extension set or tubing. The second part, first review your technique- as a previous poster mentioned, is the bag totally dry?

Here's what I do... hope it both makes sense and helps... :)

when priming the line, I make sure the roller clamp (or what ever it is in your line) is closed. my little prehospital bumpy road IV starting tip is to take the line where it leaves the drip chamber and pinch it up 180 degrees so no bubbles can enter the line when the fluid is filling the drip chamber (that was the making sense part). Then fill the drip chamber, straighten the line, release the roller clamp and flush the line, slowly not to generate too many bubbles in the chamber.

Remember if you get air in the line you can use a syringe to aspirate it out with out too much difficulty. IF you have a port in the right spot. :)

A few bubbles are ok, the whole line with air.... not so good. the bubbles will get absorbed.... huge amounts, not so much...

If that doesn't help (or doesn't make sense) just ask another nurse for tips... the whole I'm still learning how to do this and was wondering if you had any tips for keeping air out of the line bit...

Hope that helped....

Good luck!!

nursenewbe · Oct 31, 2009

first the easy question.... that tube left to the patient so you can change out? about 3 - 6 inches long? Extension set or tubing. The second part, first review your technique- as a previous poster mentioned, is the bag totally dry?
Here's what I do... hope it both makes sense and helps... :)
when priming the line, I make sure the roller clamp (or what ever it is in your line) is closed. my little prehospital bumpy road IV starting tip is to take the line where it leaves the drip chamber and pinch it up 180 degrees so no bubbles can enter the line when the fluid is filling the drip chamber (that was the making sense part). Then fill the drip chamber, straighten the line, release the roller clamp and flush the line, slowly not to generate too many bubbles in the chamber.
Remember if you get air in the line you can use a syringe to aspirate it out with out too much difficulty. IF you have a port in the right spot. :)
A few bubbles are ok, the whole line with air.... not so good. the bubbles will get absorbed.... huge amounts, not so much...
If that doesn't help (or doesn't make sense) just ask another nurse for tips... the whole I'm still learning how to do this and was wondering if you had any tips for keeping air out of the line bit...
Hope that helped....
Good luck!!

You really should come work at my job, I need ya LOL:yeah:

Pink Scrubs, RN · Nov 2, 2009

this used to happen to me all the time. you need to clamp the piggy back line before spiking the new bag. haven't had a problem since, unless of course the previous bag went completely empty.