While smart infusion pumps have greatly improved patient safety, IV therapy is still associated with a high frequency of adverse effects. Medication errors are more likely to occur when nurses are inexperienced or unfamiliar with smart pump safety features. Hands-on training is the best way for students to learn how to safely use the Guardrails software in clinical settings. In this blog, we will go more in depth with the DiaMedical USA Educational Drug Library.

Training with Smart Infusion Pumps

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices strongly supports the use of smart pumps with Dose Error Reduction Systems (DERS) for infusions but they must be utilized correctly. Inadequate education can lead nurses to bypass drug libraries or erroneously override smart pump alerts and put patients at risk. Experiential learning with patient scenarios and simulated medications is particularly effective for improving compliance with smart pumps. Standardized drug libraries are essential for educators to evaluate student skills performance in a consistent manner.  

DiaMedical USA Educational Drug Library

The Alaris Medley system is well known for its educational drug library. The DiaMedical USA Educational Drug Library is an abbreviated version of the Alaris Guardrails software for training. This drug library safeguards both primary and secondary infusions and is currently the only educational system available to do so. It comes pre-programmed on all Alaris pumps from DiaMedical USA. Beginning students can administer simulated IV fluids and piggyback medications while advanced students are challenged to calculate weight-based dosages for critical care infusions. Clinical advisories help students avoid common mistakes like failing to open the secondary roller clamp for piggyback infusions.  

Final Thoughts 

Even though smart pumps are key patient safety tools, failure to use Dose Error Reduction Systems (DERS) can lead to dangerous medication errors. Instructors can help improve compliance with smart pump technology with practice-oriented training and simulation. The DiaMedical USA Educational Drug Library was specifically created to help students learn how to use the Alaris Medley smart pump system. Simulated IV bags, tubing sets and IV start kits are also available to provide complete training solutions for instructors. For more information, reach to a DiaMedical USA expert at 877-593-6011 or info@diamedicalusa.com