Opinions on IV Poles

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello Nurses,

I am not a nurse, but I do have a question for all of you skilled professionals out there.......

If you could change anything about the current style IV poles, what would it be?

I appreciate any help you could give me!

Thanks:)

Thanks for the advise everyone!

My company is starting the process of manufacturing these poles, and I thought it would be a good idea to get some input from the people that actually use them.

Maybe we could make some changes that would make your jobs a little bit easier!

Keep the good ideas coming and I'll let ya'll know when we have a good design!

Stephanie

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Thanks for the advise everyone!

My company is starting the process of manufacturing these poles, and I thought it would be a good idea to get some input from the people that actually use them.

Maybe we could make some changes that would make your jobs a little bit easier!

Keep the good ideas coming and I'll let ya'll know when we have a good design!

Stephanie

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

My $.02... we use a LOT of pumps in our unit... some of our kiddies have many more than a dozen infusions all going at once and our bedsides are very cramped. (See photo below... each of the orange stickers is on a pump, plus there are three below the Ohio not visible in the photo. Oh, and can you pick out the patient? There is one there!) This makes the poles very top-heavy and prone to tipping when bumped. They are also prone to tipping when going into and out of elevators. (Of course, the OR, the CT suite, the MRI suite and the in-patient wards are all on another floor, so we use the elevators a lot!) So the ideal pole for us would be an easily-adjustable double pole with a very stable base, wheels that roll freely and easily, some kind of handle for ease of steering one-handed while one pushes the bed with the other or a device that attaches the pole to the head of the bed to free up both hands(!), and integrated electrical outlets for at least eight pumps. A low hook such as has already been suggested would be good too.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

My $.02... we use a LOT of pumps in our unit... some of our kiddies have many more than a dozen infusions all going at once and our bedsides are very cramped. (See photo below... each of the orange stickers is on a pump, plus there are three below the Ohio not visible in the photo. Oh, and can you pick out the patient? There is one there!) This makes the poles very top-heavy and prone to tipping when bumped. They are also prone to tipping when going into and out of elevators. (Of course, the OR, the CT suite, the MRI suite and the in-patient wards are all on another floor, so we use the elevators a lot!) So the ideal pole for us would be an easily-adjustable double pole with a very stable base, wheels that roll freely and easily, some kind of handle for ease of steering one-handed while one pushes the bed with the other or a device that attaches the pole to the head of the bed to free up both hands(!), and integrated electrical outlets for at least eight pumps. A low hook such as has already been suggested would be good too.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I would make wheels that are hair and lint-dissolving.

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

The IV poles that we use have an apparatus that allows us to place the pole on the headboard of (90% of our) beds during transport to CT, OR, cath lab, etc. You raise the bed and the pole lifts off the ground making having to deal with the pole with one hand obsolete. That's an important function when you have 3-4 four channel pumps or a couple of poles weighing what seems like a five hundred pounds!

Part of this apparatus includes a nice size handle type grip for when we do need to guide the pole by hand. It's located approximately half-way down the pole, is situated exactly opposite the part the attaches to the headboard, and extends out a few inches beyond the bottom of the pump just above it. I beleive this also stabilizes the pole and helps distribute the weight correctly when pushing the pole. Each pole has five wheels on a sturdy base that's about 18" in diameter.

Now let's talk about those darn 4 channel blue monster Baxter Pumps! Make those things about half the size and weight and I'll be your friend forever!!

I never receommend dropping one of those things on your foot.

:imbar

Oh! Here it is....Take the pole that I described above and make it so that the wheels lock and the pole doesn't wander when you are trying to put (another) one of those blue monsters on it! When I'm adding a pump and I don't have someone to hold the pole, I have to position myself so that my foot is on the base of the pole so it doesn't move while I'm attaching the pump. This is especially tricky when the pump that's being added is the fourth pump and I'm squatting to put it at the bottom of the pole or I'm lifting a whatever pound pump shoulder level and then end up having to chase the pole if my foot fails me!

Thanks!

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I am totally with janfrn! We need a double branched pole with a good strong, stable base. Get 6-10 pumps on one "tree" and take up less room instead of requiring 2 or 3 poles (plus another pole for the transducers and pressure bags).

You know what else would be great??? A power strip built in to the pole. You could just plug in the pole and all the pumps could plug into the pole.

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