IVP admin rates?

[JustAdmitToObs]

In my first month of orientation, the biggest challenge I am having is with the tactile skills that nursing school either didn't allow us to do or didn't provide many opportunities to practice.

I'm very tentative with IVP's because I'm unclear of how long the administration rate is. I'm not even sure how slow/fast to flush. I've asked experienced nurses but they haven't really provided any tips on how to remember the rates.

So far, the IVP meds I've been doing are mainly protonix, Zofran, and dilaudid. I'm clear on pushing narcotics over 2 minutes. Code drugs and flushes are obviously getting slammed, so I've got that.

Would love to hear some tips and tricks on this!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Look up the drug before you administer it. The formulary will tell you how fast or slow to push it.

[annie.rn]

I've been doing this 20+ years and I still have to look up the push rates on some meds. Eventually you will memorize the meds you use most often. Until then, you could make yourself a cheat sheet. Remember that the rates are guidelines ( w/ the exception of a few cardiac meds that have to be pushed very quickly). You need to take the patient's clinical status into account and adjust as needed. Lots of times I push meds more slowly than recommended. Don't usually push them faster than recommended.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Yeah, I have to look up push rates for anything I don't use on a near-daily basis. Toradol, narcotics, zofran. . . those are about the only ones I can remember off the top of my head.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Look them up in the IV drug book. The unit should have one. Look up each IVP med. It's important to know dilution, compatibility, and admin rate.