Mixing IV meds

[fleasle]

Hi all,

I am a relatively new nurse and had never considered mixing IV meds together before administration. This was never something that came up in school, nor something I ever saw during clinicals. However, several nurses on my floor regularly do this and I wanted to see if most people do or do not. When I say mixing IV meds I mean to put, for example, Morphine and Reglan together in the syringe and then giving it to the patient. If you do practice this, I am wondering....You only mix if the IV book says they are compatible in the SYRINGE, not Y site, correct? Also, do you go by the slowest push rate of the two? :monkeydance:

Thanks,

Flea

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

If you are talking about IV push meds then I have always done them separately. (I have only been a nurse for 4 years) I dont know that I would feel comfortable mixing Morphine and Reglan! I would check the drug book.

Some meds are ok to mix... just check your drug book in the back (I think)Mine has a table that says what you can mix and what you can't mix. As far as IV pushes I just draw up the med in different syringes and have never come across that many pushes at one time to consider mixing them.

[TazziRN, RN]

I always push meds separately. The meds are safe together, but if my pt is goingto react to a med, I wanna know which med did it!

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

i always push meds separately. the meds are safe together, but if my pt is goingto react to a med, i wanna know which med did it!

ditto...and if you can always push the ivp meds for 2 minutes to safegaurd against untoward reactions ;-(

[nursemary9, BSN, RN]

I give IV meds separately.

I don't like to mix things;As Tazzi said, if there is a reaction, I want to know to what.

I also flush with saline between meds if I'm giving more then one.

[confused101]

I give IV meds separately.

I don't like to mix things;As Tazzi said, if there is a reaction, I want to know to what.

I also flush with saline between meds if I'm giving more then one.

Me too! I had a pt. ask why I didn't mix before. AKA frequent flyer. I love when they say well.. the other nurse did it this way. AKA I get a bigger high off of it. I have had people react to the wierdest stuff. Never mix!

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

I always push meds separately. The meds are safe together, but if my pt is goingto react to a med, I wanna know which med did it!

EXACTLY!

[jojotoo, RN]

I'm in total agreement about not mixing IVP meds. I never do.

Another reason from what's been previously posted: If both a narcotic and anti-emetic is ordered, I give the anti-emetic first, then wait 3-5 minutes, then give the narcotic. This really cuts down on the N/V patients get after narcotic administration.

[crissrn27, RN]

I always push meds separately. The meds are safe together, but if my pt is goingto react to a med, I wanna know which med did it!

exactly!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Since pushing 1 cc then 1 cc takes the same amount of time with very little extra effort I'd never mix them. I learned the hard way; Pentobarbital and Valium as a pre-op gives you a syringe full of JELLO.

Do it separately so you will do it right every time.

[leslie :-D]

i understand that most of us are hurried on the floors.

but to me, mixing ivp meds is shabby nsg practice.

i need for ea med to take its' effect.

i also need to monitor the se's of ea.

it's not just a task, but a responsibility:

and should be done correctly.

leslie

[TrudyRN]

Your facility should have a list of drugs that are not compatible when mixed in the same syringe.

Heed the advice from other members and you will be ok.