Re: subq MS in LTC

[Elizabeth Harmon]

This sounds like hypodermoclysis.  You can either use a purchased set that hse the needles and tubing ready to go or it has been done with a 25g butterfly placed subq and attached to the line.  The medication does not need a pump it is purely gravity feed.  The needles need to be placed where there is adequate sq tissue. upper thighs, upper chest, abd, possibly upper arms (if enough sq tissue).  When the area is saturated you move to another route.  I have not heard of using this for  (push) infusions though.    Btsy Harmon RN CRNI Alaska Native Medical Center Anchorage, Alaska 99508 [EMAIL PROTECTED]   ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 12:43 PM Subject: subq MS in LTC Has anyone heard of placing a subq needle and giving morphine by push, capping off the extension tubing and administering it either routinely or prn? This situation came up in a LTC facility where the local pharmacy states that a hospice company is doing that and not using a PCA pump. It sounds great because nurses in LTC don't use a PCA pump very often and they don't feel comfortable with one, whereas just pushing the MS through an indwelling needle saves the resident many sticks. I am interested to see if other nurses around the country have heard of this practice.   Thanks, Diane Jiles, RN-CRNI