Stopping IV infusions

P B and J · Mar 21, 2012

I've never given a patient a choice, no matter what was infusing. "you need to use the restroom? Sure, I'll unplug the pump and bring it for you".

grownuprosie · Mar 21, 2012

I agree, regardless of what fluid is runing, why waste the supplies (Flushes, alcohol wipes, RN's time) to disconnect the line then restart it 5 minutes later? The CNA can easily put the pt back in bed and plug in the pump again, where as you would need a nurse to reconnect the tubing. The pumps have wheels for a reason. :)

grownuprosie · Mar 21, 2012

Oh, and TPN is the fluid that my instructors are always reiterating should NEVER be stopped.

loriangel14, RN · Mar 21, 2012

There is no reason to disconnect.Just take the pump in.

Ciale · Mar 21, 2012

Interesting. I work in the ER and they always (from what I've noticed) disconnect tubing unless it's "something that can't be stopped". Maybe this is just an ER thing? I remember helping a woman to the bathroom who had to go by wheelchair and had a giant three pump machine and it was ridiculous trying to drive the chair (big lady) while also steering the iv pumps. Very cumbersome but I was told I couldn't stop her infusion so....

Aurora77 · Mar 22, 2012

Heparin. We never, ever stop it.

PghRN30 · Mar 22, 2012

I do not know for sure, and would check hospital policy, but only things I would feel comfortable stopping just out of reasonable convenience for a few minutes for a bathroom trip would be IVF, extra electrolytes, and antibiotics. Though would restart ASAP. But an ambulatory pt with no other "attachments" to worry about should be able to manage an IV pole in the bathroom

But would never stop blood, TPN, ANY continuous infusion drip....amioderone/insulin drip/heparin.

I will add stopping an antibiotic or electrolyte would depend on situation.....Where was pts K at, and is this first run of K out 3, or last of 3 on a very low K, or just a slightly low getting one run to bump it up., and is antibiotic zosyn for pnumonia that pt is getting q24h on third day of tx, or first of several antibiotics being hung back to back due to possibly developing sepsis. Even ones I might stop, depends on situation. I probably wouldn't even stop IVF on severely dehydrated, hypovolemic, hypotensive pt

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2012

anything that needs titration or is required for stability-- nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, dopamine, isuprel (does anyone even use isuprel anymore?); lidocaine, amiodarone

RealNurse419 · Mar 22, 2012

Everytime you disconnect your pump, you increase risk for infection (esp in cvl's)

mochamonster · Mar 22, 2012

Everytime you disconnect your pump, you increase risk for infection (esp in cvl's)

This is what I was thinking.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2012

I don't stop any of them for bathroom trips or convenience. Simply unneccessary.

Plus, if they need more than two channels on the pump, chances are very good I don't want them up by themselves anyway...