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Tue, 07/17/2007 - 18:16
#1
carolsrn
Infusion pump use with peripheral access/home care
It has been my policy not to permit a patient in the home care setting to self infuse independently with an electronic pump through peripheral access.  I am looking for evidence either supporting this position or the safety of allowing this practice.   Any thoughts??
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Wed, 07/18/2007 - 07:48
lynncrni
My first thought was to
My first thought was to figure out your rationale for this policy. Are you concerned about infiltration or extravasation going unrecognized with the pump continuing to force fluid into the tissue? That is the primary negative aspect that I can quickly think of. I think the use of a pump for home care would depend upon the type of fluid/medication being infused and many patient characteristics, but I am not a home care person. Lynn

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN,  CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

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Wed, 07/18/2007 - 09:58
(Reply to #2)
carolsrn
This is exactly my
This is exactly my concern-having seen this happen; even with a very "benign" fluid/medication it can be nasty when it goes undetected for hours-as when a patient is sleep.  I have therefore only allowed pumps on peripheral lines when a nurse is administering the infusion-IVIG for instance.  I'm just wondering if this is a standard practice in home care.  I have recently hired several nurses who came from a company which did all pump use by patients who are self infusing.  Thank you for your input Lynn.

Carol Sweeney, CRNI, Vice President of Nursing & Clinical Compliance  ContinuumRx

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