Vital Signs with Meds

ButterflyRN04 · Jun 25, 2005

Depends on the Med how often u take vitals. There are usualy protocols u follow as with IVIG, at our facility its treated like a blood transfusion.

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2005

YES! I have given IVIG and the med reference says "monitor VS" when giving it. It doesn't say how often and no one ever seems to know. I mean taking VS once a day is technically "montioring" VS...

PediNurseBos · Jun 27, 2005

This is the annoying part..vital sign monitoring with drugs..it doesn't seem based on any pharmokinetics.. I guess there isn't any scientific reference..it seems like institutions just make up there own protocols for certain drugs.

mydesygn · Jul 1, 2005

Hi everyone
Does anyone know of a resource that recommends how frequently vital signs should be taken with various meds? for example, in some of our pharm references there are mentions of IV drugs that need vital sign monitoring like magnesium, or IVIG , high dose solumedrol etc. but they never specify a frequency. I find some nurses do VS every 15 mins some every 30 and some hourly..
Input appreciated :)

Your facility should have a policy, if not discuss with your nurse manager forming one. The only "meds" that I have had to monitor vital signs for are:

IVIG infusion (typically q15 min for first hour with rate changes and if no adverse effects may continue q1hr until infusion complete), blood, solumedrol pulses (beginning of infusion, 15 min then q1hr until complete), pt receving epidural (Q1 neurovascular checks). Honestly, can't think of anything else in general peds that require vitals monitoring. There may be other protocols for sedation and medications given in a critical care enviroment.

PediNurseBos · Jul 1, 2005

I realize most institions have policies...but I am wondering what is the basis for the frequency..the reference must be somewhere!

Other drugs say monitor VS like IV magnesium, dilantin, calcium...

mydesygn · Jul 1, 2005

I realize most institions have policies...but I am wondering what is the basis for the frequency..the reference must be somewhere!
Other drugs say monitor VS like IV magnesium, dilantin, calcium...

Most of the time with drugs it is based in a research study or the drug company data that states the liklihood of adverse effects such as hypotension while administering the medication. Based on that, the pharmacy and nursing will typically devise nursing "best practices" to be used when administering the med. Is their a nice convenient list for every possible med that the manufacturer would recommend specefic monitoring -- no, it is dependent on the institiution to determine administration guidelines for their nursing staff. For instance, we don't monitor vital signs for IV Dilantin (actually we use FosPhenytoin) because the liklihood of vital sign changes are low if adminstered according to guidelines. But you go to other facilities and some nurse had to monitor vital signs at her other job so therefore she decide d it needs to be monitored.