A nurse is caring for a client with a pulmonary embolism who is receiving a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion of unfractionated heparin through a single-lumen peripheral IV catheter. The healthcare provider prescribes a scheduled dose of IV gentamicin to be infused over . A pharmacological reference indicates that heparin and gentamicin are physically incompatible at the Y-site. Which action is most appropriate for the nurse to take?
- Insert a second peripheral intravenous catheter to administer the gentamicin infusion.Cevap
- BPause the heparin infusion, flush the catheter with normal saline, administer the gentamicin, and flush again before resuming the heparin.
- CConnect the gentamicin secondary tubing to the Y-site port furthest from the client to allow for adequate dilution in the primary tubing.
- DContact the healthcare provider to request a prescription for a chemically compatible antibiotic to replace the gentamicin.
Cevap
The most appropriate action is to insert a second peripheral intravenous catheter to administer the gentamicin infusion.
The correct action requires the nurse to synthesize two pieces of clinical data: the physical incompatibility of the medications and the pharmacokinetics of heparin. Because the drugs precipitate when mixed, they cannot share a line. Because heparin has a very short half-life ( to ) and is being used to treat an acute pulmonary embolism, the infusion cannot be paused for without the client losing therapeutic anticoagulation. Therefore, starting a second IV line is the only safe and appropriate action.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
Management of Intravenous Medication Incompatibilities and Continuous Critical Infusions