Portacaths

[LSRNgrad2008]

Hi All,

I am a new grad and recently finished orientation. I had a pt with a portacath that was already accessed with a huber needle, and had a pigtail extension with D5 1/2NS with 20 KCL running. I was given report that I needed to draw blood in the am, and I had never drawn from a portacath. One nurse told me that I needed to stop IVF, but not to disconnect and draw blood from the hub closest to the pt. Another nurse told me not to ever use that hub, another nurse said it didn't matter. I also ran IV AB's through the hub b/c the main line didn't have a port to piggyback and one nurse said not to do that, but another nurse said it was fine. I'm confused....I looked up hospital policy and it's very vague and doesn't mention anything about the proximal hub being used or not. Advice?