BayBabyRN

The TPN/IL is off for four hours every day to give the patient's liver a holiday. So the TPN/IL come at let's say 5 pm and then the new infusion begins at let's say 9 pm. Some nurses prime and leave it at the bedside for a few hours with a cap on the end. I like to prime it no more than an hour before because it seems right to me for all risks, both real and theoretical, it is safer. There doesn't seem to be any research or protocol out there however so I am asking all of you.

Our hospital is going to take away rental scrubs and force RN's to buy their own, giving them a tiny amount in compensation- supposedly enough to buy two pairs of the most basic, cheapest royal blue synthetic scrubs from a designated manufacturer. We can buy something more special such as cargo pant styles or kimono style tops, but, that extra cost comes out of our wallet. The nurses all have to have giant RN embroidered on their scrubs from this manufacturer. We are encouraged to donate our own personal scrubs to a charity. We NICU RN's go in and out of the operating rooms. Is there an increase risk for infection going in with scrubs washed at home? Why do we have to wear this new uniform? Do any of you have to do this now? What do you think?

I'm working in a level III Nicu. The question the nurses all have is how far in advance of connecting and beginning the new TPN/IL infusion can you prime the fluids? Is there a higher risk for infection with a line primed in advance? It seems that one the one hand if there sterile technique were perfect and the line was never at risk of being contaminated it could be primed anytime in advance, hours or ?days. But, if being on a counter on a sterile drape and also under a sterile drape, there could be accidental contamination- there could be theoretical risk for infection. Which brings me to another question. If there is no difference in priming immediately prior or hours before, then how come it isn't done?