Labeling Pitocin

CA CoCoRN, RN · May 10, 2004

We've gone through JCAHO successfully and this was not an issue. We have our bags labeled 5 units in 500 ml or 10 units in 1L (which ever is applicable) and this amounts to a certain number of mU/ml when the dose is titrated up or down. It's an easy calculation. It's not necessary, that I'm aware of, to label the bag with the formula.

That's not done with MgSO4, eg 20gm in 200 ml = 1gm/10 ml. That's a 'duh' equation. Same with Dopamine, Potassium, etc. Formulas are not on the bag, but the solute with the amot of solution.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 10, 2004

That's psychotic, can you write on the bag "titrating, see chart" ? And maybe leave a clipboard at the bedside?

L&D_RN_OH · May 10, 2004

We've gone through JCAHO successfully and this was not an issue. We have our bags labeled 5 units in 500 ml or 10 units in 1L (which ever is applicable) and this amounts to a certain number of mU/ml when the dose is titrated up or down.

We do the same, then chart int he bedside chart when the dose/rate is changed. Not on the bag. And we mix our own pitocin infusions.

SmilingBluEyes · May 10, 2004

I annotate "Pitocin, 20 units, Debbie, ____ RN, date/time and titrated per protocol" on my orange med labels..... ...

It seems abundantly clear anyone could see what the rate is on the LABELED line and pump of the IV that contains pitocin (per protocol we HAVE to label these as well as the bag hanging). I would have to think this is best in the way of efficiency and clarity. I would also think constantly changing labels would be messy as well as time-consuming. We have a survey coming in the near future; it will be interesting to see what they have to say then.

TammyWilson808 · May 24, 2004

I annotate "Pitocin, 20 units, Debbie, ____ RN, date/time and titrated per protocol" on my orange med labels..... ...
It seems abundantly clear anyone could see what the rate is on the LABELED line and pump of the IV that contains pitocin (per protocol we HAVE to label these as well as the bag hanging). I would have to think this is best in the way of efficiency and clarity. I would also think constantly changing labels would be messy as well as time-consuming. We have a survey coming in the near future; it will be interesting to see what they have to say then.

Aloha,

We also have to label our bag containing Pit (usually 20 units titrate per protocol), our line and the pump. We are being JACHO surveyed in June---those are the standards of practice we are held to.

Personally I think having to annotate titrate changes on bag is not necessary but it is dependentupon your facility's dictates---

Aloha!

Jemma · May 25, 2004

Aloha,
We also have to label our bag containing Pit (usually 20 units titrate per protocol), our line and the pump. We are being JACHO surveyed in June---those are the standards of practice we are held to.
Personally I think having to annotate titrate changes on bag is not necessary but it is dependentupon your facility's dictates---
Aloha!

We went through a mock survey with the new tracer method- it's going to be quite different from the past. Please let me know how your survey goes. One thing that came up was having the pharmacy mix the Pitocin for inductions/augmentations. Does your nursing staff mix it or the pharmacy?

Is your pharmacy open 24 hours?

L&D_RN_OH · May 25, 2004

Does your nursing staff mix it or the pharmacy?
Is your pharmacy open 24 hours?

We have a 24 hr pharmacy, but....... our protocol is to start Pitocin within 30 minutes for a scheduled induction. By the time the pt is admitted intothe computer system, the orders placed by the support tech, and the order filled by pharmacy, it would be a heck of alot longer than that. We always mix our own.