1. Primary and secondary line infusion
2. Use of infusion pumps via primary infusion vs secondary cassette site.
Staff nurses are wanting more formalized guidelines than what we have presently identified in our procedures. Of course there are varied ideas as well as numerous scenarios that may occur that would determine what is the best practice for that particular instance. Some hot ones are:
- Insulin drip - should it be placed directly into the IV catheter hub and on a primary infusion pump (then would need to be changing/disconnecting insulin if insulin needs to be turned off for an hour and then back on, etc.) or infused via a primary pump and piggybacked into a back up solution as NS through the closest port to the patient? If the later, then how fast should the back up fluid be infusing?
- Dobutamine - long term set infusion versus titrating for effect may be hooked up differently.
Thanks so much.
Pat Deisch RN, MSN
