Sweetie2005

Of course I know it introduces bacteria. That's why I posted the question--to get other nurses' insight about how much risk would it have been. I don't even remember if I did or didn't (even though I do use alcohol in every circumstance I can think of). It's what I call work-related OCD. It must be nice to never question YOUR own actions or need a second opinion to possibly help you feel better. And being that the site itself got infected, it most likely would have been microbes under the dressing, not from a flush. And aside from that, alcohol doesn't kill bacteria unless scrubbed vigorously for 2 minutes from what I've read. I don't know any nurse that does that! It doesn't seem you even bothered to read the question fully or the responses thereafter.

Wow, you seem so helpful. Thanks for making me feel better about it. Do your research before saying something so rude.

I figured most people covered the sites, I'm just wondering is it horribly inappropriate if it isn't covered??? Like when a patient has a hand iv and wash their hands, it muct get wet then as well.

Just wondering what other nurses out there do when a patient has a IV cap and hops in the shower? We have an aqua-guard plastic that can be taped on the site. I was told during training though that an IV cap doesn't need to be covered for a shower, since they are not soaking the site in the tub or for long periods of time.. Our IV start kits have an op-site type dressing that covers the IV at all times that looks to be waterproof. If I don't cover the site, I tell the patient it may get it wet, but not to saturate the site. When I'm worried that it may be yanked out, I do cover it. Just wanting some other opinions! Thanks

ah.....the joys of being the new grad. Some nurses just eat their young no matter what you do. Just use the knowledge you have and be confident in how you handle a situation. If you're following a policy, good for you.

I had also read in various sources that alcohol does not sterilize the port, or even kill all bacteria on the port. So in essence, aren't we really introducing bacteria to the bloodstream with any flush or access at all?

I guess for insight I mean if I didn't use the alcohol swab, would this have caused the iv site to get infected itself?

I've been worrying all week about a patient who got an infection at the IV site then became septic from this site. I'm not even sure if I had this patient when she had the bad IV but I keep racking my brain to remember if I forgot to use an alcohol pad before I flushed the iv cap! I've read some posts about people not using alcohol routinely etc. I always do but just have to wonder if I didn't for some reason! Any insight?

How many mL are actually in the primary IV tubing at any time? I gave some IV Morphine (2mg/mL) through a carpuject through a line running normal saline at 20mL an hour. If 2mg was pushed over 10-15 seconds in the closest port running into a picc line, how long until the patient received the dose?