Wiping off IV ports

[blondy2061h]

I almost exclusively have patient's with central lines at work, so scrubbing the ports before using them with an alcohol wipe is essential. When I do have a patient with a peripheral IV, however, when flushing it or connecting tubing I still scrub it with alcohol. I feel like this is how I was taught in school. My dad was in the hospital and people were constantly doing stuff with his IV, no alcohol wipe. I figured it was poor practice, but a short cut in a busy unit. Then I had to go to a different hospital for a CT scan, and there the nurse pushes contrast and connected fluids never using an alcohol wipe (except for insertion). Do you use alcohol wipes? Are they needed?

[gallatea]

better yet who would actually say something to a non-scrubber if we witnessed it? What about the non-veralizers...that's what keeps the non-scrubbers going.

[Vespertinas]

Good question. I'd pick my battles. If it was on the floor where I worked, there are probably bigger fish to fry when the time comes.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Always wipe before and after!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Code situations don't always get a scrub between rounds either...

LOL. Can you imagine a nurse swabbing a port for 15 seconds in a code? And letting it dry for 15 seconds before injecting the drugs? She'd be dragged out of the room by the hair if she tried that in my unit.

[grownuprosie]

The "scrub during a code" question came up in my lecture. The instructor responded with, "what is worse, an infection or death? There is your answer." makes sense to me.

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

LOL. Can you imagine a nurse swabbing a port for 15 seconds in a code? And letting it dry for 15 seconds before injecting the drugs? She'd be dragged out of the room by the hair if she tried that in my unit.

I'm sure that during codes life outweighs infection lol. Thats when prioritizing takes place :)

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I'm sure that during codes life outweighs infection lol. Thats when prioritizing takes place :)

I don't think anyone would seriously advocate for wiping ports between injections during a code. The image just cracked me up for some reason.

[Music in My Heart]

A nurse goes after the needless port on my kid's IV without scrubbing it with a prep is going to get an earful... and a note from me to the DON, BON, and the Med Chief.

It is malpractice, pure and simple, to fail to "scrub the hub" before accessing any line... and it happens only due to laziness.

[Music in My Heart]

LOL. Can you imagine a nurse swabbing a port for 15 seconds in a code? And letting it dry for 15 seconds before injecting the drugs? She'd be dragged out of the room by the hair if she tried that in my unit.

No, but there is usually time for a 2-second swipe each time...

[jelly221,RN, MSN]

See what I mean? Or you have a nurse who never learned to scrub it before looping it, even!! I am super embarrassed about that one, wondering what else they may not know in my old neck of the woods.

They also told us at work we couldn't use the NS flush cap either!! And how is the syringe in the pocket going to get contaminated? It's even in a wrapper for heaven's sakes! I hope I never veer towards infection control as a career; I probably wouldn't be able to stand myself. No offense, infection control nurses, lol

Ugh makes me cringe... like not washing your hands in a public bathroom. WHAT?!?!

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

These little gems are newly being used (and audited) at my hospital. We're to put one on every access port on every IV tubing/hub/port. I like them.

[BonnieSc]

Using the cap from the NS flush to cap the end of a line is NOT appropriate. That isn't what the caps are designed for, and there is no research to show that this is effective. Don't be a lazy nurse. And if your facility is making you charge out every single sterile cap... maybe you can lobby them to show how compliance will be better (resulting in money saved for the hospital as infections are prevented and uncapped tubing doesn't have to be thrown away) if bulk caps can be available.

I know this makes sense and seems easy (I used to do it, too), but take some time to read at the Infusion Nurses Society website for more on the subject.