Question:
I have a medication management question that seems a little silly to ask, but I don’t want to provide incorrect information. In a meeting for an order set I noticed that the saline flush order looked like the one below.
Sodium Chloride flush 0.9% 1-5 ml, IV, as needed, line care. For IV flush. Line Maintenance per Lippincott procedure for the line being maintained.
Is a range okay or should the total ml be listed specifically?
Answer:
Not a silly question actually. Saline flushes are not defined by The Joint Commission as a medication – they are defined as a device. Your policy directs nurses to follow Lippincott for the line flush. This is adequate.
It should specify at least 5ml to flush the line. 1 ml will not render a patent line.