Jeannine W C Blake, Robert Butterfield, Tiffany Hopper, Nathaniel M Sims
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Secondary medication delivery using large-volume smart pumps offers important workflow and safety benefits. However, the widely used linear peristaltic large-volume smart pumps rely on sufficient head-height differential for accurate secondary infusion, leading to underdelivery risks. This article outlines common clinician workarounds used to mitigate these risks, including delivering secondary medications via primary mode, programming excess volume to be infused, clamping primary lines, and using short-set primary delivery. Although intended to ensure full medication delivery, these strategies introduce safety risks, increase alert burden, and heighten cognitive load. In contrast, cassette-based large-volume smart pumps use valve-controlled fluid delivery, eliminating the need for head-height differential and reducing the potential for human error. This review evaluates the risks and rewards of these workarounds and offers guidance to support informed decision-making while advocating for long-term technology solutions that improve safety, reduce clinician burden, and align with best practices in infusion therapy.
期刊介绍:
AACN Advanced Critical Care is a quarterly, peer-reviewed publication of in-depth articles intended for experienced critical care and acute care clinicians at the bedside, advanced practice nurses, and clinical and academic educators. Each issue includes a topic-based symposium, feature articles, and columns of interest to critical care and progressive care clinicians. AACN Advanced Critical Care contains concisely written, practical information for immediate use and future reference. Continuing education units are available for selected articles in each issue. AACN Advanced Critical Care is an official publication of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.