swabbing off iv ports or saline locks before hooking up fluids

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I have to confess there were times I didn't have an alcohol swab in my pocket and have hooked up the fluids anyway. I would never do that again. I would take the time to go get the alcohol swab

Specializes in Oncology.
The swab cap screws on to all your clearlink caps in the IV line. When you want to use a port, you just take off the cap, attach your syring, push your med, flush and then screw on a new cap. The new cap stays on until the next time you access the line. So you don't have to scrub with alcohol and wait for it to dry before accessing the line. Once removed, the caps have to be thrown away. If they are left on, they can stay for 96 hours, the life of your IV tubing.

We use them in our hospital as well. The caps are small and it doesn't take much to pull them off. So the only time we don't use them is with a kid who might pull it off and try to eat it.

Interesting...thanks! Do you still just attach a regular cap then to IV tubing not currently in use? Do you use them on your central lines also?

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Specializes in Pediatric, Neonatal.
I agree swabbing the IV port with alcohol is not negotiable. However, I'm a creature of habit. One of the most uncomfortable moments in my nursing career is when I stopped to swab the IV port before pushing the Epi during a code. I looked up to see a room full of shocked faces. I deserved it.

Obviously I don't attend many codes. I was enlisted during a shortage of nurses on a night shift. I still cringe when I think about that moment.

LOL! I was the med nurse in a mock code...I slowed things down because I was looking for a trash bin to toss the wrappers from the various syringes and medications...after a few seconds I was laughing uncontrolably...obviously not a concern during an emergency!:lol2:

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I carry stacks upon stacks of those with me. its the best 15 cents you can spend to help prevent infection.

It's an even better bargain than you thought :) A box of 100 at a grocery store is about 3 bucks.... 3 cents/swab...and buying bulk in the hospital, gotta be a cent at most....

Swab away, y'all :D

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Is it just me, or are the OPs posts kinda weird?

:lol2:

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Are you kidding? I would never say it like that to someone

Well, u can put a tux on a turd but it's still a turd. (Please don't flame me, OP). Sometimes on a forum such a ours, comments are taken one way when the poster meant it in a totally different way.

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
To say the least. :confused:

Yup!

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Hi Anne. I was JUST this moment thinking about you. Was about to send you a message wishing you happy holidays. What a coincidence. :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, ANNE. :)

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
:lol2:

Bahaha! :D

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I have confessed my errors to the infection control of that facility

Well I hope that works out for you. If I'd been violating standards of practice and hospital policy I'd probably feel pretty nervous about treating my employer like a confessor.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Hi Anne. I was JUST this moment thinking about you. Was about to send you a message wishing you happy holidays. What a coincidence. :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, ANNE. :)

Hey to u!! Great minds think alike! I was wondering what u've been up to also. Hope ur T giving was great!

Anne, RNC :D

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I have to confess there were times I didn't have an alcohol swab in my pocket and have hooked up the fluids anyway. I would never do that again. I would take the time to go get the alcohol swab

Alcohol swabs don't matter. In fact, we should just inject bacteria directly into the line.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Do they also give injections and draw blood without alcohol swabbing?

I don't know about their injections as those are few on my floor other than subq insulin; most meds we give are piggyback or IV push. Phlebotomy techs draw all blood from peripheral veins and they swab the sites really well with alcohol. When I draw from a picc or port I swab even if the line is attached to a running line before disconnected. If you're asking if some colleagues draw from venous access devices without swabbing, I would have to say yes.

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