Vitamin K - IV route & clarifications

[LovingNurse]

!). I had an order for Vitamin K "Slow I.V. push" last night. Anyone else give it this route?

( Pt's INR was 4.8 )

2). When you clarify with pharmacist on meds (whether it be route, compatibility, dilution etc.) do you document anything on the MAR?

- I clarified this route with pharmacy and he said the literature on Vitamin K IV route is outdated and it is okay to use IV push - slowly.

-I always want to note on the MAR that I have clarified unusual orders... not only 'for the record' but also so the next nurse can see it was clarified in case she needs to do the same etc. My senior nursing partners say 'not necessary to document clarification, it's only "for your own piece of mind" - I say I want it for some CYA too - what say you guys?

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

I work in toxicology. It was hard to believe but I have had to give 50 mg IV vitamin K for a woman who ate rat poison.

[Nurse Lulu]

I have always given it IVPB or IVP CAT

[silentRN]

IV on a syringe pump.

[Intubate89]

I refuse to give it IV (I've seen patients go hypotensive and no one, including pharmacists, can give me a clear okay) and if the physician insists on it, then I give him a syringe, needle, alcohol swab, and the vial. :-)

[ririrain142]

I gave it for the first time the other day and it scared the crap out of me. The doc refused to change the route to po even though my patient was taking po just fine. Of course, he told us all about how the risk for anaphylactic shock was so high, etc. The pharmacist told me to give it slow IVP (1 mg a minute), so I give the dose, holding my breath.. she was fine. But what do they do next? Change the route to po.

[dsgrandmarn]

Our docs always order it for SQ. As for documentation, you could be saving someone else time and aggravation plus the obvious and always important CYA. Thanks for watching out for those who come after you. I will do the same from now on when there is a question.