Prefilled saline syringes versus pulling from saline bag
Prefilled Saline Flushes verses Manually Drawn Flushes
Prefilled Normal Saline Flush verses Manually Drawn Flush
Today’s healthcare industry is ever-growing and demanding. Nurses, doctors, nursing assistants and other health care workers must be knowledgeable and able to adapt to the ever-changing trends. It is imperative that each patient is given the best and safest quality of care. It is a nurse’s duty to provide the best quality of care to every patient. The following sections will discuss the use of prefilled saline flushes verses manually drawn flushes. Using prefilled flushes not only drastically decreases nosocomial infections, it also decreases medication errors. These factors increase the patient’s safety and satisfaction. In the research conducted, two protocols in use at different hospitals were examined. Evidence demonstrates the use of a prefilled flush is not only convenient, accurate, and sterile, but also the safest and most efficient.
Current Protocols In medical society today, hospitals are using either prefilled flushes or manually drawn flushes. A prefilled flush is manufactured with various specified amounts of sterile normal saline in each syringe. A manually drawn flush involves accurate measuring of solution drawn from a bag containing normal saline by a staff member at a hospital. Currently there are no national standards. The choice of using prefilled flushes or manually drawn flushes is at the hospital 's discretion. One local hospital’s protocol for flushing involves the use of prefilled flushes. The flushes are kept in an omnicell on each unit in the hospital. The syringes can be scheduled, PRN, or both. To retrieve a prefilled flush, the staff nurse must use his or her log-in information, scroll through the patient list and select the desired patient. The patient’s scheduled and PRN medications appear. The nurse selects the prefilled flush and claims it from the specified area in the omnicell.
Prefilled Normal Saline Flush verses Manually Drawn Flush
Today’s healthcare industry is ever-growing and demanding. Nurses, doctors, nursing assistants and other health care workers must be knowledgeable and able to adapt to the ever-changing trends. It is imperative that each patient is given the best and safest quality of care. It is a nurse’s duty to provide the best quality of care to every patient. The following sections will discuss the use of prefilled saline flushes verses manually drawn flushes. Using prefilled flushes not only drastically decreases nosocomial infections, it also decreases medication errors. These factors increase the patient’s safety and satisfaction. In the research conducted, two protocols in use at different hospitals were examined. Evidence demonstrates the use of a prefilled flush is not only convenient, accurate, and sterile, but also the safest and most efficient.
Current Protocols In medical society today, hospitals are using either prefilled flushes or manually drawn flushes. A prefilled flush is manufactured with various specified amounts of sterile normal saline in each syringe. A manually drawn flush involves accurate measuring of solution drawn from a bag containing normal saline by a staff member at a hospital. Currently there are no national standards. The choice of using prefilled flushes or manually drawn flushes is at the hospital 's discretion. One local hospital’s protocol for flushing involves the use of prefilled flushes. The flushes are kept in an omnicell on each unit in the hospital. The syringes can be scheduled, PRN, or both. To retrieve a prefilled flush, the staff nurse must use his or her log-in information, scroll through the patient list and select the desired patient. The patient’s scheduled and PRN medications appear. The nurse selects the prefilled flush and claims it from the specified area in the omnicell.
References: Beck, C., & Polit, D. (2004). Nursing research principles and methods. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=5g6VttYWnjUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&hl=en Bertoglio, S. (2013). Pre-filled normal saline syringes to reduce totally implantable venous access device-associated bloodstream infection: a single institution pilot study. Journal of Hospital Infection , Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/236052771_Pre-filled_normal_saline_syringes_to_reduce_totally_implantable_venous_access_device-associated_bloodstream_infection_a_single_institution_pilot_study/file/e0b4951642fb5330dc.pdf Dobbs, D. (2014, March 11). Interview by C. Cobb []. Price quote of supplies. Hadaway, L. (n.d.). Misuse of prefilled flush syringes implications for medication errors and contamination. Infection Control Resource, 4(4), 2-4. Retrieved from http://www.hadawayassociates.com/Misuse_of_Prefilled_copy.pdf Hadaway, L. (2012). Sterile prefilled saline syringes for acute care patients: A review of clinical evidence, cost-effectiveness, evidence-based guidelines, and safety. Rapid Response Report: Summary with Critical Appraisal, 4(4), 2-5. Retrieved from http://www.cadth.ca/en/products/rapid-response?q=Sterile Jones, A. (2014, March 11). Interview by A. Baddley, B. Brooks. Prefilled flushes vs saline bags. UC Davis Health System. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cnr/evidence_based_practice/