Syringe Infusion Pumps: Considerations and a Comprehensive Overview for Use at Low Delivery Rates
The Food and Drug Administration’s national safety communication on syringe pumps brought renewed attention to the serious consequences of their incorrect use and the need for clinicians to better understand their limitations. Syringe pumps permit the delivery of concentrated, rapid acting intravenous medications at slow infusion rates and provide a means to deliver multiple medications in the face of conservative fluid management.
This course begins by exploring the principles on which syringe systems operate. This reveals nuances of their operation that may lead to unexpected medication delivery. The course concludes with a discussion of best practices for ensuring the desired infusion. This includes adopting ASHP’s Standardize4Safety recommendations, optimizing dispensing practices and syringe size selection, and developing protocols for syringe change-over. Applying this knowledge will help clinicians use syringe pumps in a manner that ensures patients receive their medication in a timely, stable, and continuous manner.
This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours for pharmacists, physicians, and nursing by American Society of Health-System. Please review full details on the ASHP website.
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