Stopping IV infusions

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What drug infusions should you NEVER stop? For instance, the patient needs to go to the bathroom but doesn't want to wheel the pump in there with them...

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
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?

It is an ER thing where I work. Then they get up to the floor and get mad I won't do it.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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....

It's an ER thing. Many ED patients just have O.9ns for fluid bolus hanging. It takes much more of the ED nurses time to escort the patient with an IV pole when they are just getting plain IV fluid for hydration.....We just cap it and let them go.....they are probably going home anyhow.

Drips that can't be stopped are any titrated drips, heparin, nitro, dopamine....etc.Titrated drips are given for blood pressure, blood thinning chest pain. Or if they have an antibiotic infusing that must be in a pump because if it is given too fast a bad reaction can happen.

I hope this helped.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Heparin. Anything titratable. I never stop a pump if the patient has something continuous running.

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I'm not taking any chances, so I won't be stopping anything. I am a nursing student, and I always leave my patient's pumps running, and help them to the bathroom if they can't wheel the pump on their own. As a nurse, my policy will be similar. If I have time, I will help the patient to the bathroom myself. If not, I will instruct the CNA to push the pump for the patient, and I will leave everything infusing.

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Nice! Thanks so much for all the feedback, guys. This really helps.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

If they only have normal saline running, it's not a big deal to stop it so they can shower or go to the bathroom.

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