The policy at my hospital is to cover the end of your intermittent IV tubing with a new sterile cap between uses. There has been a recent challenge to this practice by a RN wanting to loop the end around and insert it into a port on the tubing. Wanting to stay away from the "because we said so" mentality, are there any studies out there to support the sterile cap practice (besides common asepsis sense) over the insert back into tubing practice? Thanks!
The INS standards of practice supports your practice, not the other RN's idea of looping the tubing to another injection site. A new sterile end cap is specifically written in the standard on intermittent tubing. Also the Institute for Safe Medications Practices has written warnings about this looping practice - www.ismp.org.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
www.hadawayassociates.com
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861