reentry nurse needs help with IV Labeling

boggle, ASN, RN · Jan 19, 2004

Krisssy, first , be thankful that with the use of IV pumps in many areas, you won't have to time tape as much as we did years ago.

Now for your problem. You've already done the math. Now just draw it out....a horizontal line on the tape to mark the starting fluid level (625 ml) and label it for the new start time (5:30). Tthen work your way down the tape.

fluid time

625ml 0530 starting time

475ml 0630

325ml 0730

175ml 0830

25ml 0930

0ml 0940 end time

I calculated that at 150ml/ hr, that last 25 ml would infuse over 10 minutes. In real life you would probably just change the bag, and not bother waiting for those last 25 ml, but I don't think that's what your instructor is looking for here.

Remember to date bag, indicate type of solution and initial (if that's what your instructions or policy requires.)

Good luck with your studies and new career move!

eek! edited: eek! When this posted, the spaces I had left between the fluid levels and the times just disappeared. Hope you can figure out what I was trying to show.

krisssy · Jan 19, 2004

Boggle,

Thank you for your help. The times and spaces did post. What was confusing me was that the picture in my book had the mL in ascending order. So they started with 0 mL at the top of the IV bag. Then they went to 100mL and then 200mL. etc. etc. It is very confusing that way. The way you explained it (in descending order) makes sense to me. Have you ever seen IV bags in ascending order? Do most institutions use pumps now? Thank you for taking the time to explain this to me.

Krisssy

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2004

I just want to add that I think you are very brave for changing careers. I know you will be blessed by that decision and it will be life-changing for you. Good Luck!

Dplear · Jan 19, 2004

I have not time taped an IV in 15 years. I think it isd about time that they updated the books. A facility that does not have IV pumps would be setting themselves up for a massive lawsuit if an IV infiltrated off a pump. The technology is too cheap for them not to use them

Dave

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 19, 2004

About the time I left hospital nursing TPTB (the powers that be) were discussing doing just that.

"Pumps are too expensive." TPTB said.

"Nurses know how to count drops." TPTB said.

I don't know the outcome, but I sincerely hope it didn't take a sentinel event to convince them otherwise.

krisssy · Jan 19, 2004

Purplemania, Thank you for your good wishes. Your words of encouragement meant more to me than you would ever know, not knowing me and all. I have been through a lot of strife in the last two years including a pending divorce. My new career gives me hope for my future and the future of the patients I will care for. I am hoping to make very positive changes in my life, and I will remember your words. With the nursing shortage, I hope that more nurses who have been away from nursing decide to return. I also hope more hospitals and colleges start offering reentry programs and refresher courses to encourage more nurses to return to the profession of nursing.

Regarding the issue of pumps. The book I am using is four years old. I am hoping that they will use pumps where I work, but I want to know how to do the calculations just in case. I took a refresher course in a medium sized hospital. Some of the patients had pumps, and some had the plain old gravity IVs. So it is better to know it just in case. i do agree that it would certainly benefit all hospitals to be using pumps for all IV patients. The money they would spend would certainly be well worth it.

I would also like to see more hospitals using computer ordering too. Reading the handwriting of some doctors can be very difficult and surely can cause errors. Yet i haven't seen much of it. I would love to get feedback on how many hospitals use pumps for EVERY IV patient and how many use computerized ordering.

Thank you all for answering my posts.

Krisssy