Yet another IV Q

[raindrop]

If you get the primary bag ready, you get a "primary" IV line.

What type of line do you get if you are to hang a drug that can't be piggybacked b/c it's not compatable with the primary?

I don't have much experince with IV's at ALL. At my clinicals, I saw a nurse use the same line, but she squirted what was remaining in the line before spinkiing the other bag. Surely that's not the way.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

What type of line do you get if you are to hang a drug that can't be piggybacked b/c it's not compatable with the primary?

You hang the new bag with a new primary line. Certain meds can permeate the lines somewhat, and therefore you should never try to reuse a line for an incompatible med.

Typical meds I run by themselves include: Heparin, Potassium, and Magnesium.

Certain other meds require a dedicated line, so you might even have to start a second IV site in order to run the medication. I think Protonix is one, Dilantin might be another, but it may depend on your hospital policy. Always check with your pharmacy with any unfamiliar drug.

[raindrop]

You hang the new bag with a new primary line. Certain meds can permeate the lines somewhat, and therefore you should never try to reuse a line for an incompatible med.

Typical meds I run by themselves include: Heparin, Potassium, and Magnesium.

Certain other meds require a dedicated line, so you might even have to start a second IV site in order to run the medication. I think Protonix is one, Dilantin might be another, but it may depend on your hospital policy. Always check with your pharmacy with any unfamiliar drug.

Ok, gotcha. Also, I posted this on the Gen discussion and I'm getting mixed responses...

As your inserting an IV and you get blood return, at that point do you...

1) release the tourniquet and THEN continue with advancing the catheter/removing the needle, OR

2) Advance the catheter, remove the needle AND then REMOVE the tourniquet?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

If two IVs are not compatable, usually you need another IV site, unless you are discontinuing the first primary line.

The answer is #1, as soon as you get blood return release the tournaquet, etc....

[mommatrauma, RN]

I insert the IV, get the flash, advance the catheter, remove the tourniquet (if I'm not drawing blood) compress the vein just above where the tip of the catheter should be, then remove the needle. I don't remove the tourniquet until the catheter is all the way in...just because you got a flash of blood doesn't mean you'll be able to advance the catheter...and if you removed the tourniquet before you were able to advance and have to pull back a little and readvance and retie the tourniquet, well its too many steps and you only have two hands...you are more likely to lose the vein altogether...as for the IV bag, general rule of thumb, unless you are replacing a bag that contained the same thing you just took down...new tubing everytime...