title: Flushing an i.v. line: a simple but potentially costly procedure for both patient and health unit.
abstract: This observational study investigated the intravenous (i.v.) medication administration technique of Registered Nurses (n = 47) using the injection port of a concurrent intravenous infusion. Study findings showed that the majority of nurses adhered to the most common although debatable recommended guideline in stopping the concurrent infusion and slowly administering the medication in the syringe over 3-5 minutes, prior to flushing the line quickly. Nurses failed to account for the dead space in the i.v. line when calculating the administration rate for pre and post medication flush. Similarly, the benefits of continuing the concurrent infusion when administering intravenous medication were not taken into consideration. Based upon these study findings, we recommend changes to procedural guidelines for i.v. medication.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wotton
authors.forename: Lee-Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gassner
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ingham
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013021:South Australia; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors