Quick question :)

[bignels]

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Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a pleasurable evening. On to my questions:

I was volunteering this past summer in a pharmacy at a local hospital. I noticed that they created a multitude of IV's for the patients found within the hospital.

My question is: What are some of the common forms of IV's used in a hospital? Specifically a Children's Hospital? I am curious as to the type of IV's they were creating; I remember they were called lipids by the nurses who were coming to pick them up (excuse my ignorance/naivety).

Also, are the IV's made specifically by Pharmacists or could Pharmacy Technicians assist in their creation?

I guess that is all for now.

Thank you in advance 🙂

 

[sdn1977]

Our department will dispense fluids which the patient may require because the child may not be able to take in enough of his own fluids (nothing by mouth) or may have a condition which requires extra fluids (burns, dehydration).

We also make intravenous antibiotics which the child cannot take orally.

Sadly, we make chemotherapy intravenous fluids which treat cancer.

We also make nutritional support fluids - combinations of proteins, carbohydrates, electrolytes, minerals and yes - lipids .. which are a form of fat. This kind of nutrition is used in children (and adults) who cannot maintain their own nutrition by oral means.

Finally, we make unusual IVs for specialized situtions which might occur in the OR, cardiac cath lab, radiology, etc.....

Yes - we use pharmacy technicians to compound our IVs. It depends on the institution which ones are compounded by techs & which are compounded by pharmacists.

All of them are checked by a pharmacist before leaving the pharmacy.

Hope that helps to answer your question and I hope your summer was rewarding.

Good luck!

 

[bignels]

I appreciate your detailed response!

The experience was definitely rewarding 🙂

 

[Epic]

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a pleasurable evening. On to my questions:

I was volunteering this past summer in a pharmacy at a local hospital. I noticed that they created a multitude of IV's for the patients found within the hospital.

My question is: What are some of the common forms of IV's used in a hospital? Specifically a Children's Hospital? I am curious as to the type of IV's they were creating; I remember they were called lipids by the nurses who were coming to pick them up (excuse my ignorance/naivety).

Also, are the IV's made specifically by Pharmacists or could Pharmacy Technicians assist in their creation?

I guess that is all for now.

Thank you in advance 🙂

IV hydration seves many purpose in hospitalized patients including replacement therapy for fluid, electrolytes and also serves as a vehicle to administer intravenous medications.

I interned at a Children's Hospital for 3.5 years while in Pharmacy School. The lipids...were they milk like? Trust me..they don't taste like milk. The lipids are injectable fat which is a part of nutritional therapy..usually given in combination with carbohydrate, protein, electrolytes, vitamin, minerals, and sometimes insulin all in one bag called TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition).

Every state differs in sterile compounding..but most states allow technicians to compound IVs...but it requires a pharmacist check.

My recommendation to you.. if you see something in pharmacy and you're curious, don't hesitate. Ask. It is a professional responsiblity of pharmacist and pharmacy technician to teach students.