smart pumps

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Cardiac, OR, Neuro, Teaching, Research.

Curious as to what everyone thinks of the "Alaris" smart pump? We are just being introduced to them in Canada. Are you finding them user friendly:specs: or other wise?

thanks in advance for your responses!!:nurse:

sue pozitory

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Specializes in PICU/NICU.

We just got them.... I'm still learning, but so far I really think they are ok. I like the gaurdrails... less room for error! I also like the display- no more putting tape on the pump to label whats infusing. They do take some getting use to.

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Specializes in MICU.

i love the alaris pumps its so much safer for you and the pt. they take a while to get used to but the benefits are amazing. calculating the right rate for the prescribed meds= awesome:up:

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Specializes in Cardiac, OR, Neuro, Teaching, Research.

I have not primed one yet....any difficulties/tips?

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Specializes in Neuro.

Priming them isn't too bad. Just remember to "wedgie" the tubing into where the air indicator is, and make sure the tubing isn't stretched out so it will infuse properly. I find the guardrails very easy to use, not as much math involved for me.

We started using the PCA module recently as well, and the pt button lights up green when the medication is available, so patients like it better as well.

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Specializes in Cardiac, OR, Neuro, Teaching, Research.

:yeah:Thanks to all that answered.I look forward to using the new pumps!!:up:

:bow:nurses rule:bow:

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Love em!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care/Neonatal ICU.
i love the alaris pumps its so much safer for you and the pt. they take a while to get used to but the benefits are amazing. calculating the right rate for the prescribed meds= awesome:up:

They are great but keep in mind that they could be set up incorrectly. Make sure you check the setup and don't just go by the med on the screen. I had amiodarone infusing but the rate was wrong. When I looked at the setup, the nurse before me had programmed the wrong concentration into the pump.

I love the pumps for titrating weight-based meds such as Diprivan, Levophed, and Dopamine. :yeah:

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Specializes in PICU/NICU.

"I love the pumps for titrating weight-based meds such as Diprivan, Levophed, and Dopamine."

Yep---- everything we do is by weight so it is a really nice way to not only titrate but give a "per kilo" bolus. Now, just because the pump does the calculation, doesn't mean you don't need to do it yourself also--- Like Bookworm said they are not foolproof!

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Specializes in Gerontology.

We've been using them for about 3 years now. Love them! Very easy to use. But just remember - the pump is only as smart as the person using them!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

They are nice for all the reasons listed above. But, DO NOT EVER remove the tubing once you have it in the pump and running correctly. If you do, you will have a heck of a time getting it to run without alarming "Air In Line". You can look with an electron microscope and not find any air, but you will not be able to get it to run without changing lines.

Also, I don't know if anyone else is set up like this, but I work in the cath lab and some of our patients come from our cardiac floor. We are considered critical care, the floor is not. If we send a patient back up to the floor with something like Integrillin running post stent placement, they can't run it on one of theirs pumps, we have to change to one of ours. Big PITA if your are trying to get the patient out of the room so you can turn over for the next case.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care/Neonatal ICU.
They are nice for all the reasons listed above. But, DO NOT EVER remove the tubing once you have it in the pump and running correctly. If you do, you will have a heck of a time getting it to run without alarming "Air In Line". You can look with an electron microscope and not find any air, but you will not be able to get it to run without changing lines.

Also, I don't know if anyone else is set up like this, but I work in the cath lab and some of our patients come from our cardiac floor. We are considered critical care, the floor is not. If we send a patient back up to the floor with something like Integrillin running post stent placement, they can't run it on one of theirs pumps, we have to change to one of ours. Big PITA if your are trying to get the patient out of the room so you can turn over for the next case.

We also have trouble with "air in line" alarms especially with Diprivan and Lipids.

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