Shower with IV

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

I had a patient with a Heparin drip running. She wanted to take a shower. Is it ok for her to shower with the Heparin still infusing if it is completely covered in plastic?

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Without knowing all the ins and outs, I'm going to say no. I ASS-U-ME this is a stroke pt(tho' perhaps not...), in which case they are already a fall risk; add risk for traumatic subdural bleed r/fall while on hep, not to mention the fall risk r/tubing while in a shower...mmmm, no.

Lots of variables, but I would not w/o a clear "up-ad-lib" and clearance by PT/OT on ADLs.

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Pt is not a fall risk or stroke pt.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I have never let someone shower with a running IV. Why not just let the pt wash up in the bathroom, and she can shower once the Heparin gtt is dc'ed? Unless there is some major hygiene issue/body odor going on I don't really see a need to attempt a shower with something running.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Sure why not? Its not fair for the pt to feel dirty just because its a pain in the butt for you and there is no risk to the pt. Showers can do amazing things for people. Naturally the nurse should stay with the person.

I have showered many pts with infusing IVs as long as they were stable.

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I'm not sure I understand why it wouldn't be okay for someone to shower simply because they have an IV. We place a small washcloth over the IV, wrap it in plastic, and tape the plastic in place. I just ask the pt to call me immediately afterwards, so we can get the tape off and make sure the site didn't get wet.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I have never had a patient shower with a running IV. Saline locked, sure, but not with something going. Even though the patient is not originally a fall risk or a stroke patient, they could still fall....things happen. I wouldn't put the heparin on hold either because of the heparin protocols...you might have to start over on it or something.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Where I work we frequently put patients on heparin drips (and tele) in the shower. If a patient is being bridged to coumadin with a heparin drip, they can easily be on the drip for 3 days or more. Even prisoners have the right to a shower every other day, I'm not sure why patients shouldn't have the same basic human rights as a prisoner.

Obviously you would follow the same rules you would with any patient regardless of whether or not they have a drip running in terms of fall risk and safety, but having a drip running does not in itself mean it's not safe for them to shower.

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We shower pt's on heparin gtts all the time. Especially if they are going for open heart surgery, then they get two pre-surgical showers with chlorihexidine soap, in addition to bactriban to the nares BID. It is part of the protocol we follow at my facility. It helps prevent postop surgical infections.

All you have to do is cover the IV site carefully, keep the pump and pole outside the shower curtain, provide the pt with a shower chair in case they need to sit, if they are on oxygen provide extension, and provide any assistance the pt may need.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology.

Only issues here with showering are the IV site getting wet and the potential for the patient to fall (you could be in a world of hurt if the patient on heparin falls and hits their head!). As long as you safeguard against these two things (wrap the IV site up well with saran wrap, use a shower chair, and have someone stay very close by to watch the patient as he/she gets in and out of the shower), there's not reason why the patient shouldn't be able to shower.

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What about getting them a shower chair to decrease the chance of slipping and smacking her head while in the shower? Then making sure someone is there to help her in and out of the shower? We had a pt on our floor fall not too long ago, wasn't even on heparin drip and ended up having a brain bleed and headed to ICU for awhile because of it. My answer would probably be a big fat "NO" to cover my butt, but that's just me. It seems that my "walky talky" pt that go down to smoke, walk the halls, and you would never think they are going to fall end up being the ones to fall.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
What about getting them a shower chair to decrease the chance of slipping and smacking her head while in the shower? Then making sure someone is there to help her in and out of the shower? We had a pt on our floor fall not too long ago, wasn't even on heparin drip and ended up having a brain bleed and headed to ICU for awhile because of it. My answer would probably be a big fat "NO" to cover my butt, but that's just me. It seems that my "walky talky" pt that go down to smoke, walk the halls, and you would never think they are going to fall end up being the ones to fall.

I would like to think people would take simple precautions like a shower chair while a pt is on a hep gtt.

Everyone is a fall risk when in a hospital. Lord knows we hook them up to enough stuff.:lol2:

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