I have been thinking about this for quite a while and need feed back from other infusion nurses. When you teach the pt to infuse in the home are you also teaching them to check for a blood return first? Our organization has not made a practice of doing that. It bothers me though since the INS "Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice" #45. E. states that the nurse should aspirate the catheter for blood return as a component of assessing catheter function prior to administration of medications or solutions. And would it be safe to teach the pts or would this create a higher risk for complications? Just wondering what others are doing. Thanks!
Valorie Dunn, RN, BSN, CRNI
In home care, the nurse only sees the patient about once weekly. In discussing this with many home care companies, the prevailing practice is for the nurse to perform this assessment with each visit. It may be difficult for the patient to make a correct assessment about the quantity and quallity of the blood return, but the nurse can and should do this with each visit. There is no evidence to state that teaching the patient to do this would create a greater risk of complications. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Thank you Lynn, That makes me feel much better:) I was second guessing my self and info from others is always so helpful.
Valorie
Valorie Dunn,BSN, RN, CRNI, PLNC