IVRUS BSN, RN

IVRUS has 32 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in Vascular Access.

IVRUS's Latest Activity

1. 

   PICC: aspirate blood before every infusion?

   IVRUS replied to mlolsonny's topic in Infusion

   YES, YES, AND YES! Each time, Every time! Now, once you assess and have patency with NSS, then you don't need to assess it again if you are heparinizing the line after your saline flush, but a brisk, free-flowing blood return the color and consisten...
2. 

   port accessing tips.

   IVRUS replied to busybee04's topic in Oncology

   Heparin Flush will prevent fibrin build-up. Keeping a line open with Saline only is doable, but one should be flushing at greater intervals if that is what you are using. In hospital settings, they usually use Saline only as they are manipulating an...
3. 

   Heparin Flush

   IVRUS replied to Kelly_the_Great's topic in Infusion

   Infusion Nurses Society (INS) reviews in its standards, that Heparin Flush, if it is to be used on Non-Valved IV catheters should be the lowest concentration available. In hospitals, most IV catheters are being used sooo frequently, that Heparin flu...
4. 

   ER registered nurse

   IVRUS replied to eileendg1989's topic in Infusion

   I would contact BARD. They often provide PICC "certification" classes.
5. 

   PICC: aspirate blood before every infusion?

   IVRUS replied to mlolsonny's topic in Infusion

   A curos cap is a good idea, but if it is not your policy to use them, then scrub, scrub , scrub that needleless connector each and every time before you enter it.
6. 

   Getting a CVC IJ dressing to stick with facial hair

   IVRUS replied to RNKPCE's topic in Infusion

   This is a total NO-NO. Shaving causes microabrasions and possible staph infections. If you must, clip the hair.
7. 

   PICC: aspirate blood before every infusion?

   IVRUS replied to mlolsonny's topic in Infusion

   So, let's say that you are giving an IVAB. Med is due at 0600. At 0555, you do all your checks on the IV catheter/drsg, you check the saline syringe, and you do a good, vigorous scrub of the needleless connector. You hook up your saline syringe, flus...
8. 

   sterile technique question for implanted port accessing

   IVRUS replied to allthesmallthings's topic in Infusion

   That is why you are PALPATING initially with non-sterile gloves on, so that you only have to stabilize the port's body with one hand, while accessing it with the other hand. Yes, with sterile gloves on, you technically can touch the port, but I'd on...
9. 

   Help! Struggling with IV placement in hand

   IVRUS replied to Guest1167668's topic in Infusion

   Well, Your process doesn't appear problematic, but how is your tourniquet placement? If you are placing the line on a geriatric pt, you may very well have difficulty being successful if you tourniquet is too tight. Elderly patients require loose to...
10. 

    TPN infusing when to change PICC drsg?

    IVRUS replied to avado's topic in Infusion

    Any issues/complications, real or imagined, must come under the PRN dressing change tab. If you think you are seeing redness under at the site, that is a time when you MUST perform a sterile dressing change to assess and identify the next step in pa...
11. 

    PICC dressing change with 3M Tegaderm with CHG

    IVRUS replied to utah23LPN's topic in Medications

    https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/993615O/picc-cvc-chg-device-application-guide.pdf Maybe their website instructions can help
12. 

    Best practice for locking a central line with heparin.

    IVRUS replied to kristine_bean's topic in Safety

    Kristine, What is the concentration that you are using to "lock" the PICC line? Standards, and many Policies have you locking catheters with the lowest concentration, namely 10 units/mL. With this concentration, there is no need to withdraw th...
13. 

    How do I get IV experience?

    IVRUS replied to Mich888's topic in Infusion

    I would try to find a Post Acute / LTC facility which takes complex patients. We have a couple in my area that take vents/trachs, and they do tons of IV therapy. Given that you are such a new RN, I seriously would discourage you from trying to bran...
14. 

    port accessing tips.

    IVRUS replied to busybee04's topic in Oncology

    Were you actually ACCESSING an implanted port, or truly de-ACCESSING? Upon accessing, some ports are easier to access if the patient is sitting up; this is especially true if the pt is a large chested female.
15. 

    Can 3% normal saline be given peripherally and in a non ICU/ER setting?

    IVRUS replied to LvlupNurse's topic in Safety

    First of all Karen, this conclusion, imo, is nonsensical. Yes, having a central line in increases the chance of large vessel thrombosis, but the benefit of having it is so much better than the inherent risk. Bloodstream infections can occur with a...