Preparation of an intravenous infusion admixture nursing reference

There has been a growing concern over the increasingly complex problem of incompatibility between intravenous drugs mixed extemporaneously by nursing staff. A considerable amount of data has been published although much of it has not included background on the criteria and conditions under which it was collected. The compatibility/incompatibility of a number of admixtures is known to depend on these conditions. The purpose of the present work was to compile and evaluate data on drugs which were most frequently requested to be mixed at the author's hospital. The results are presented in a chart with an accompanying guide to its use for the nursing staff. Use of the chart may require reference to more detailed information kept in the Pharmacy, although restrictions outlined in the guide minimize this.