Chestnuts roasting on the open fire….Jack Frost nipping on your nose….crowded malls with last minute shoppers…and holiday treats that are sooo good, you know it can’t be good for your health. Oh, let’s not forget that big jolly fellow in the red suit…. A year ago, I posted a blog wondering what it would be…
A twitter nurse colleague (@chemosabe) shared an interesting article recently: Errors in the administration of intravenous medications in hospital and the role of correct procedures and nurse experience Johanna I Westbrook, Marilyn I Rob, Amanda Woods, Dave Parry BMJ Qual Saf 2011;20:1027-1034 Published Online First: 20 June 2011 The objective of the study was to…
This maybe old news to some…but others may have missed it… Infiltration: Checking for blood return or back flow of blood is good for patency but not a reliable method for assessing infiltration at IV site. If infusion continues to run when you apply digital pressure 3 inches above peripheral IV site in front of…
… as in blood return… which, to an infusion nurse is truly exhilarating! When I am challenged to insert a 24g peripheral IV catheter in a tiny, invisible vein of a dehydrated infant, I jump for joy as I watch anxiously for the blood return and pray that blood continues to backflow as I advance…
…”to remove vascular and nonvascular access device dressings, tape, or stabilization devices due to the potential of severing the catheter or administration set and patient injury” Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice 2011 The use of scissors in the presence of vascular and nonvascular access devices shall be limited to suture removal and during the procedure…
We’ve all heard it before…in healthcare, anything can happen, hence there is no guarantee. Well, that is until the press release for a new needlefree catheter patency device called “Neutron” came out on Oct. 4, 2011. Click here for the press release. Neutron, according to its manufacturer ICU Medical, is the world’s first and only…
In September of 2010, I posted a blog about drug shortages, the good and the bad. Then, according to ISMP, the drug shortage problem has risen to the level of a national public health crisis. Click here for this blog post. Fast forward to September 2011…not only do we still have the same drug shortage…
A Class I recall has been issued for the SynchroMed II Implantable Infusion Pump, models 8637-20 and 8637-40, distributed between May 2004 and July 8, 2011 manufactured by Medtronics Inc. The SynchroMed II Pump is indicated when patient therapy requires the chronic infusion of the drugs or fluids. This infusion pump is indicated to deliver…
Today our nation marks the 10th year anniversary of the attacks on 9/11 in NYC, DC and Pennsylvania. That was a day no one would ever forget. We will always be grateful to the courageous firefighters, rescuers and first responders who risked their lives to save those in the rumbles of this dreadful day. We…
Most of the comments or questions I get are from readers who are nursing colleagues. Occasionally, I get comments from readers who are infusion patients. This one comment stood out…. I go to an infusion center every two months for several years now to receive my infusions. It is a very busy infusion center and…
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