Due to the IV fluid shortage, I was wondering what others are using in place of NS and LR? We are a smaller hospital. We are out of NS and almost out of LR. What are you all using?
Are you having shortages of all IV fluids? The biggest problem has been the shortage of small volume bags (50 or 100 mL) for med dilution. Your options include Med dilution for IV Push, but syringe pump use is safer than manual push. Busy nurses are not going to take the required time to manually push. Patients in home care do this all the time. If you do not have enough syringe pumps, and your volumetric pump allows attachment of syringes, that would work also. You would still need a flush solution to move the residual drug from the pump set into the vein though. Another option is elastomeric balloon pumps, again may add expense. Metered volume chamber sets would be the very last option and not safe. Lynn
We have been administering the medication in a syringe via IV pump but the problem now is that we are dangerously low on most fluids. Has anyone tried Plasma-Lyte A for hydration or fluids during surgery? We are having to find an alternative to NS and LR
we have and I’m sure you are already doing this but might reinforce listening to those lungs and watching o2 sats closely. Hespan can be a tricky one too. get the stethoscope on there!
To read the most recent recommendations on managing this shortage of small volume IV fluid containers from the ASHP, go to https://www.facebook.com/LynnHadawayAssociates/ to see a link to their document. Lynn
Are you having shortages of all IV fluids? The biggest problem has been the shortage of small volume bags (50 or 100 mL) for med dilution. Your options include Med dilution for IV Push, but syringe pump use is safer than manual push. Busy nurses are not going to take the required time to manually push. Patients in home care do this all the time. If you do not have enough syringe pumps, and your volumetric pump allows attachment of syringes, that would work also. You would still need a flush solution to move the residual drug from the pump set into the vein though. Another option is elastomeric balloon pumps, again may add expense. Metered volume chamber sets would be the very last option and not safe. Lynn
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
We have been administering the medication in a syringe via IV pump but the problem now is that we are dangerously low on most fluids. Has anyone tried Plasma-Lyte A for hydration or fluids during surgery? We are having to find an alternative to NS and LR
Rpressley RN Team Manager
Outpatient Infusion Clinic
Stillwater Medical Center
Stillwater, Ok
we have and I’m sure you are already doing this but might reinforce listening to those lungs and watching o2 sats closely. Hespan can be a tricky one too. get the stethoscope on there!
Thank you!
Rpressley RN Team Manager
Outpatient Infusion Clinic
Stillwater Medical Center
Stillwater, Ok
Plasma-Lyte A is a brand name for a balanced electrolyte solution similar to D5RL. It can be used for hydration. https://www.drugs.com/pro/plasma-lyte-a.html
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
To read the most recent recommendations on managing this shortage of small volume IV fluid containers from the ASHP, go to https://www.facebook.com/LynnHadawayAssociates/ to see a link to their document. Lynn
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