Vitamin K IV

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Occasionally we are asked to give VIt K IVP or as a secondary in an infusion. One of our nurses had a pt code after but was brought back. Any of you have experience with problems with VIT K IV? Should be refuse to push/hang it?:uhoh3: I swear, all the things we have to do in a day, then worry about keeping our licenses intact also!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

hello, central wi rn and welcome to allnurses.com

excellent question.

i've never had a patient code during the iv administration of vitamin k. but, it definitely can occur. the patient must be very closely monitored due to the possibility that cardiac arrest can occur. and, sometimes, despite all the best efforts, the patient codes anyway.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I've never given Vitamin K IV. What is the rationale for giving it IV?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

hello, dutchgirl,

severe cases of vitamin k deficiency with life-threatening bleeding. normally, ffp is given prior to the iv vitamin k.

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Specializes in CCRN, CNRN, Flight Nurse.

By our policy, only MDs give IV Vit K. Too much potential for clotting. We use SQ route routinely.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

It is in the protocol for NPs here.

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i've given vitamin k iv put never had a coad. here in my countary Guyana there are a lot of snake bite patients .because of all the complacation with the venum and the clotting factor the patients have all drugs iv and vitamin k is one after a bleeding and clotting time result from the lab

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma.

Should only be given IV when absolutely necessary, i.e., an actively bleeding pt with coags/INR through the roof. I've given it IV maybe 10 times in the past five years, never had a problem. I do get irritated with the docs though, that order it this route on a fairly stable pt and will request they change it to IM/SQ.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

We always give FFP and SQ Vitamin K. I doubt seriously we'd ever see it ordered IV on the med/surg floor. Thank God, I don't think I would feel comfortable giving it IV. I've giving as many as 4 SQ Vit K injections at one time. Thanks for the explanations re giving it IV.

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What would you expect to see if Vitamin K reaction was going to happen? Only a quick cardiac arrest? That is what my friend saw. Are declines ever slower such as shocky symptoms? And I do work on the medical floor, not ICU, and have seen/given IV Vit K several times in the last 1 1/2 years, despite asking md's for a different route.

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Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

New recommendations are to AVOID subq Vitamin K due to poor absorption. We have a whole new policy on it at work; we are to direct the doctors to it (don't you love nursing telling medicine what to do?!). IV or PO is recommended. I'll see if I can find the literature. I've given Vit K IV without any difficulty.

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Specializes in CCRN, CNRN, Flight Nurse.

I'd sure like to see the literature..........

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