IV question from a student

Nurses General Nursing

Published

My Pedi clinical instructor has me so confused!

Recently I had a patient who was getting a continuous infusion. On the flow sheets we're supposed to fill out, I recorded it as "right wrist hep-lock 22 gauge".

When she was passing the "corrected" flow sheets back I noticed she had made the comment..." If this is a hep-lock there is no continuous fluid, which is it?"

It is my understanding that eventhough its called a "lock" when there is nothing running, the general name for the IV device itself is a hep-lock or saline-lock right? Thats what Ive always heard in every hospital Ive done rotation at.

I'd ask my instructor, but she'd just tell me to look it up anyway. Can anyone answer this for me?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

A hep lock or saline lock indicates there are no fluids influsing.

If the patient was getting infused I would indicate what is being infused, at what rate, IV site location, gauge, etc. and if the site is patent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

:yeahthat:

Hep lock..or Saline locked IV's do not have any continuous infusions running.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

frankly i think she is being an itch.....yes, the iv is PROBABLY running THRU a lock.....the convention of not saying that prob comes from the time when ivs were run straight...no lock ,IF there was no fluid running....which i dont think is done much if at all any more....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pain Management, RN experience was in ER.

When something is "hep locked" that means that there is no fluid running and the IV tubing is not connected, as others before me have said. The new term for it is now "IID." The actual tubing that you're referring to is not called a hep-lock: It's actually a macrobore extension set. When the set is in a state where fluids are not running and no tubing is connected, the status is THEN called a hep-lock. (So a heplock is the status of the IV tubing, not a name for any tubing.)

As another person said, in this case you would mention it's a 22g to R wrist with NS @ 125ml/hr or whatever the case is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

You are correct in that the device attached to the cath is a hep lock, but it is generally only referred to that way if no fluids are running. I think your instructor is being a bit picky and should have just explained this to you. If you told me your pt has a 22g R wrist HL, I would assume there is nothing running.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU/NICU.

Hep lock/saline lock has no fluid. PIV (peripheral IV) has fluid running. I think your instructor could have explained this to you quite quickly:D

Seems a bit nitpicky to me too! If you gave me report and said hep lock with fluid infusing- I would have known exactly what you were talking about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your instructor has sent you on a wild goose chase. But at least you now know that your community of nurses are able to provide you with the right answer when you need them. That is a good thing she has done for you. Thank her for the experience and tell her where you got your information it might enlarge your portfolio with her. Research is one of my most interesting part in nursing so never only rely on your instructor for knowledge, dig, dig, dig, ask and knock you will find it. I had a palm pilot on a med/surg floor with encyclopedia, labs, and drug book, you may consider one of those it'll come in handy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment