With Basal on PCA pumps

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,I was just wondering what it means to set your pump "with basal" on your PCA pump? On the machine I saw you could make it "with basal" or "without basal".Thanks so much for any info. :)

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

basal rate means that there is a steady infusion of medicine going through the IV. For example, a 1mg basal rate of Morphine means that 1 mg of Morphine is steadily infusing over each hour. The patient is unable to manipulate this infusion of morphine. The patient CAN manipulate the PCA dose of Morphine, however, by pressing their PCA button to deliver a pre-determined infusion of Morphine.

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Thanks for replying and answering my question! I really appreciate it, that makes perfect sense!

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Specializes in Oncology.

PlaneFlyer got is right on. PCAs are great, and we use them with basal a lot. It's nice, because it lets the patient get some sleep without their pain getting uncontrolled in the interval they're not demanding medicine in.

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