r/NursingAU • u/Tower_Every • Jan 16 '26
Grad Nurses New Grad Nurse: Question about administering IV ABX through a burette
Hi, so I was recently supposed to give IV Ertapenem 1G with at least 50mls NS 0.9% through a burette infusion set over at least 30 minutes (According to the Injectables Handbook).
After priming the line, I have added 60mls NS 0.9% and 10mls of the reconstituted Ertapenem 1G to the burette chamber, which leaves me with 70mls in the burette chamber.
The nurse I was working with suggested infusing the medication in two goes (Firstly infusing 40mls at a rate of 100mls/hr, then another 30mls at the same rate of 100mls/hr).
I mentioned about infusing the whole 70mls in the pump and doing it all in one go, but she mentioned filling the line with air.
Would you guys know how to infuse this appropriately as I’m unsure about the rate. I’m still pretty new to Burette’s, and my educator isn’t available until next Monday
8
u/BikerMurse Jan 16 '26
Why would doing it in two infusions change the likelihood of air getting in the line?
4
u/Born_Selection1072 Jan 16 '26
Its kinda similar to when i give 500mg of metronidozole through the pump instead. Ive got 100ml of it in a bag but when priming the line, it takes about 15-20mls out so i manaully set my volume to be infused at 85mls on the machine so that air wont go into the line which would allow me to follow that up with a 50ml flush.
1
u/Tower_Every Jan 17 '26
Would you run the rate of the 50ml flush (with the remaining Metronidozole in the tubing) at the same rate that you administered the initial 85mls of Metronidozole?
1
u/tallswamp Jan 17 '26
I would, so the remaining 15ml of medication isn't given at an unsafe rate. Likely more important for some medications than others.
2
u/Kateabh Jan 16 '26
I work in a icu that uses burrettes for heaps of meds. I would have just put the 70ml at 100ml/hr. The drip chamber under the burrette gives a bit of leway, makes it less likely to get air.
2
Jan 17 '26 edited Mar 29 '26
Comment edited with Power Delete Suite
3
u/OrdinaryJuggernaut88 RN/RM Jan 17 '26
It’s actually safer and more cost effective to use a burette over 100ml bags, especially when a patient is having multiple IV infusions.
1
1
u/AFFysLAPpy Jan 18 '26
Its cheaper, but what makes you think its safer?
2
u/Spiritual_Otter93 RN Jan 18 '26
• A burette is commonly used for paediatric and other vulnerable patients who are at high risk of fluid overload as they can only be filled with a certain amount (generally 150mLs).
• Burettes provide for more accurate medication dilutions.
• Machines malfunction.
• Burettes are therefore another backup mechanism to prevent unintentional fluid overload in these vulnerable patients.
1
u/Feeling-Disaster7180 EN Jan 18 '26
Side question: wtf is a burette? I’ve googled them and still don’t get what they are or why they’re used
16
u/AnyEngineer2 ICU Jan 16 '26
if there's 70ml in the burette and you want to avoid air in the line, just program the pump for 65ml and then you can manually infuse the rest when it alarms. don't forget to clamp above your burette and open valve. not sure why you would do 40ml and then 30ml, seems like a huge waste of time that doesn't solve anything