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  • 1.  Diluents: Managing Inventory and Documentation in the MAR

    Posted 01-22-2025 17:11

    Good afternoon, all,

    I'd like to hear about your practices related to sterile water and normal saline used for reconstituting medications. 

    1. Is this documented as a separate component on the MAR, for example, 100 units of Botox and 2.5 mL of normal saline? Or would you document only 100 units of Botox?
    2. How do you track the inventory of these diluents? 

    I appreciate any input you may have. Thank you!



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    Alison Isabelle MS BSN RN
    UT Southwestern Med Ctr
    Dallas TX
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  • 2.  RE: Diluents: Managing Inventory and Documentation in the MAR

    Posted 01-23-2025 08:28

    Hello Alison,

    We do not require documentation of the normal saline or sterile water diluents for reconstitution. Our offices do complete monthly medication audits ensuring medications are not expired or are not going to expire during the current month, but the inventory of is not tracked.

     

    Thank you,

     

    J.J. Peacock, MSN-Ed., RN, AMB-BC

    Nursing Professional Development Generalist

    Sentara Ambulatory Services Division

     

    Office: 434-654-4529

    Email: SJPEACOC@sentara.com | SASDClinEduTeam@sentara.com

    590 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 323, Charlottesville, VA 22911

     

    RQI: RQI_SASD@sentara.com | Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) (sharepoint.com)

     

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  • 3.  RE: Diluents: Managing Inventory and Documentation in the MAR

    Posted 01-23-2025 11:30

    We follow the same process as Sharon laid out in her post. 



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    Rebekah Sherman
    La Clinica de Valle
    Medford OR
    (541) 221-3040
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  • 4.  RE: Diluents: Managing Inventory and Documentation in the MAR

    Posted 01-23-2025 20:17

    Hello Alison,

    In my experience administering Rocephin and other meds that require reconstitution, it is consistent with my colleagues replies.  Only the medication dose is documented. I would go a step further and add, sometimes the medication would be delivered already reconstituted by Pharmacy or if not, the medication would be sent with the diluent and  instructions on how many ML's of the diluent to reconstitute the the medication with to get the desired dose. .  That has been my experience as a Primary Care RN. 

    Karen



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    Karen Jeremiah RN
    RN
    V8 Clinical Contact Center
    Riverview FL
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  • 5.  RE: Diluents: Managing Inventory and Documentation in the MAR

    Posted 01-23-2025 20:24
    Karen,
    In our organization, we have Rocephin and Lidocaine linked together in an order so both are scanned into the MAR. The diluents with vaccines and sterile water and normal saline are not scanned. Kenalog and Lidocaine for joint injections that our providers are administering are entered as separate orders then compounded.


    Thank you,

    Sharon JJ Peacock, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
    Nursing Professional Development Generalist
    For clinical education inquiries, email SASDClinEduTeam@sentara.com
    For RQI questions, email RQI_SASD@sentara.com
    Disclaimer:

    This electronic message and its contents and attachments contain information from Sentara Health and is confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. The information is intended to be for the addressee only.
    If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, copy, distribution or use of the contents of this message is prohibited. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message and all copies.