Know Your Meds
This local anesthetic is the newest medication added to our pediatric order sets
Where can nurses find the key for the epidural?
Pyxis
What is the name of the flowsheet to document on for epidurals?
PCEA
True/False: Nurses can not change the epidural medication bags.
What are some ways to assess a patient's sensory level?
Using a end of a tongue depressor, pen, end of pencil, cold ice
This opioid is sometimes added to local anesthetics in pediatric epidurals and is known for causing itching as a side effect.
Fentanyl
A patient has to go off the unit for therapy. The patient can go off the unit, but what should the nurse check on the pump prior to the patient leaving?
Check to see if the internal battery if full. If not, replace with batteries.
Nurses should document (how often?) when a patient has an epidural infusing.
Every 4 hours or a change in assessment/pain score/vital signs.
True/False: Nurses cannot remove air from an epidural line.
False
What are some ways to assess a patient's motor function?
Ask them to move their extremities.
If an epidural contains a local anesthetic, sensory and motor assessments must be performed.
True
Your patient's epidural medication bag needs to be changed. The correct person to call for the curlin pump tubing is pharmacy.
False, you should call hospital stores.
How often do nurses assess sensory and motor assessments?
Every 4 hours
Dual RN checks should occur during these intervals.
Upon admission, change of shift, change of bag, change of order (medication dose, etc.)
True or false: A patient can ambulate with an epidural.
True, this will require assessment of dermatomes and sensory/motor function.
There is only a NICU and Peds specific order set for epidurals.
False, there are 3 different order sets that should align with your profiles on the epidural pump.
It takes _____ to get an additional bag of medication for the epidural machine.
2 hours
False- You can search for it by typing epidural or APAC
It is the middle of the night and you're patient is experiencing an increase in pain. What should be done next?
Assess the patient's vital signs, pain score and dermatomes. Assess the epidural site for leakage or dressing not intact. Administer a PRN if ordered or call APS.
How do you assess an infant's sensory and motor assessment?
Pain scale, vital signs, facial expressions, movement of extremities
True or False – Lidocaine patches can be applied while an epidural infusion containing local anesthetic is running.
False
What is the passcode for the epidural pumps?
0000-94629 or 94629
True or False: eRecord auto-calculates the volumes from the epidural.
False, it should be manually documented.
What is the term used for epidurals in PolicyStat?
Anesthesia Placed Analgesic Catheters
Your patient has some small leaking under the dressing. Part of the left side if lifting up. What should the nurse do?
Reinforce and reassess. If it continues to leak, notify the APS team.