im a newly qualified midwife from Ireland. Im also new to Australia and looking for some help!
I have got my AHPRA registration and I have some work with an agency lined up.
Im just looking to do an intravenous therapy course before I start? I dont want to specialise or anything i just want be able to say hang and monitior iv antibiotics on a ward.
Can anyone tell me where I could complete such a course? I take it that its mandatory here, or does it fall under medication course? Im currenlt in melboure and would like to do it as soon as possible.
I would really appreciate any help or information from anyone.
Yes I used the Yellow Bible tonight, it came in very handy as my IV medication skills were a wee bit rusty!
Like for instance I think I reconstituted some sort of powdered penicillin with 20mls of WFI (water for injection) and inject that into a 100ml bag of NS, to be given over 1-2 hours via pump. Some facilities just attach a 1000ml bag of NS, then attach a pedi burrette, fill that with 100ml NS (or whatever dose you need), then add the reconstituted antibiotic to that (this is for patients who have multiple IV ABx, & who need constant fluids running) - it saves time fiddling around with 100ml bags. It just depends on your facility and the doctor's preference. Some doctors/facilities like the control of pedi burettes, others don't care.
And the pumps aren't hard - you just turn on, it does it's check thingy where you press yes you've heard the test done, go to primary line (or clear previous amount first), add in your mls/hour say 125, then the amount, ie: 1000 mls (I put in 999 mls), then hit confirm amount, and then the pump should start.
With injectable IVs, follow directions in the IV drug book, and you can inject over 3-5 minutes into their cannula, or you can clamp an already existing line (if fluid running is compatible), and inject slowly from there, releasing the line as you go but always check your IV book first.
I tell you, I used to be $h*t scared of all IVs, but I just kept asking re them and practising with the pumps when no-one was using them and I got the hang of it. Nobody minded helping out and I haven't found a nurse who refused to keep showing me re the pumps. I don't know why I was so scared of them, maybe because they beep so loud - like when you press 'start' and they BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! cos you haven't unclamped the line!! I have done that on many occasions
My hospital routinely uses the flask-and-burette method, provided the volume to be infused is
Yes it seems to be different in every state I've worked in! You'd think that IV meds would all be done the same.
Where r u Talaxandra, r u in Melb? What area r u working in? I'm working in Adelaide at the mo in quite a large public hospital, and am maninly doing ED nursing at the mo.
I work in a public tertiary hospital in Melbourne, on a mixed medical specialty unit - some of our patients miss out on IV meds but they're way the exception, and a few of our sicker ones have 2-4/24 antibiotics, antivirals and/or antifungals around the clock. They also tend to be in full isolation, too, so walking in to find only a completed 100ml bag is really, really annoying!
carolmaccas66, BSN, RN
2,212 Posts
Yes I used the Yellow Bible tonight, it came in very handy as my IV medication skills were a wee bit rusty!
Like for instance I think I reconstituted some sort of powdered penicillin with 20mls of WFI (water for injection) and inject that into a 100ml bag of NS, to be given over 1-2 hours via pump. Some facilities just attach a 1000ml bag of NS, then attach a pedi burrette, fill that with 100ml NS (or whatever dose you need), then add the reconstituted antibiotic to that (this is for patients who have multiple IV ABx, & who need constant fluids running) - it saves time fiddling around with 100ml bags. It just depends on your facility and the doctor's preference. Some doctors/facilities like the control of pedi burettes, others don't care.
And the pumps aren't hard - you just turn on, it does it's check thingy where you press yes you've heard the test done, go to primary line (or clear previous amount first), add in your mls/hour say 125, then the amount, ie: 1000 mls (I put in 999 mls), then hit confirm amount, and then the pump should start.
With injectable IVs, follow directions in the IV drug book, and you can inject over 3-5 minutes into their cannula, or you can clamp an already existing line (if fluid running is compatible), and inject slowly from there, releasing the line as you go but always check your IV book first.
I tell you, I used to be $h*t scared of all IVs, but I just kept asking re them and practising with the pumps when no-one was using them and I got the hang of it. Nobody minded helping out and I haven't found a nurse who refused to keep showing me re the pumps. I don't know why I was so scared of them, maybe because they beep so loud - like when you press 'start' and they BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! cos you haven't unclamped the line!! I have done that on many occasions