Mag rider & K rider

[Grasshopper11]

I am told several different stories about how to hang mag and k riders. I see some that are running like a regular piggyback. Some hang it alone like a regular iv. Others use two channels on the IVAC and run normal saline at kvo. Others say you can't run normal saline unless you have a doctor's order. Can someone tell me the correct way to hang mag and k riders? I know potassium burns so one would think it would just be nursing judgement to run it with NSS.

[Aurora77]

We run Mag as a secondary piggyback. Potassium does burn, so we run that on a separate pump and y it in, usually with NS or 1/2 NS at the same rate as the potassium. Check with your hospital protocol--ours calls for 1/2 NS to be run with the potassium if no other fluids are running.

[nightengalegoddess]

I always try to get an order with lidocaine mixed with the potassium....when it is going peripheral. I piggy back it into the NS or .45 NS whatever I see is better for particular patient....if it still starts to burn...I run the NS or half NS for minutes until comfort Sometimes you can just Y site with an appropriate pt. (labs, labs labs....check check check...ie: esrd, chf). Most of the hospitals I have been in piggy back with NS and just let it run alone....but most RNs have been persuasive with the lido mix order into peripheral. Check YOUR hospitals protocol and practice to make sure what you're doing is ok. The only times we get covered by the hospital's insurance is when we follow the protocol/practice. Otherwise...you are on your own with your best judgment.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I usually always run them as a piggy back, but only piggy backed into NS. Since potassium burns, I always run that with NS and set our IV pump to run "concurrently" that way the NS and the K are running at the same time. If it is still burning, slow down the rate of K or sometimes using a cold pack at the site can help.