De-accessing a port woes?

Guys, I am stressing myself over something I can't do anything about and pretty much due to a nagging feeling. I'm hard on myself and this could be in my head, maybe which is why I am lying in bed awake at almost 4a.

To the point, I discharged a patient at change of shift last night, deaccessed his port, which was the first time I've ever done that (been an RN for almost 3 yrs). I spoke to my charge and we went over the steps. I ordered the heparin flush per our protocol. I remember flushing with NS first and I know I pulled the heparin flush from the Pyxis and documented on it, but for the life of me I have been agonizing, thinking I may have missed the heparin when I deaccessed the port. During my dc education, I let them know to continue getting the port flushed monthly yadda yadda. But I can't shake this feeling. Could be in my head but that's no comfort. And I can't do anything now about it if I did forget it. I don't even know why I'm posting but any advice/encouragement would be helpful. And needless to say I will DEFINITELY make sure I heparinize next time.

Side note: I just precepted someone last week and let them know you are still constantly learning in this field and you will never know everything. Boy, is that the truth or what!
I hate that feeling of not knowing if you did something or not. Don't worry about not locking with heparin, if you did in fact forget as long as you flushed well and deaccessed without negative pressure. I have had many patients with ports who could not/did not take have heparin flushes in their ports. It is not that uncommon of a thing.

Quote from EmeryRNGuys, I am stressing myself over something I can't do anything about and pretty much due to a nagging feeling. I'm hard on myself and this could be in my head, maybe which is why I am lying in bed awake at almost 4a. To the point, I discharged a patient at change of shift last night, deaccessed his port, which was the first time I've ever done that (been an RN for almost 3 yrs). I spoke to my charge and we went over the steps. I ordered the heparin flush per our protocol. I remember flushing with NS first and I know I pulled the heparin flush from the Pyxis and documented on it, but for the life of me I have been agonizing, thinking I may have missed the heparin when I deaccessed the port. During my dc education, I let them know to continue getting the port flushed monthly yadda yadda. But I can't shake this feeling. Could be in my head but that's no comfort. And I can't do anything now about it if I did forget it. I don't even know why I'm posting but any advice/encouragement would be helpful. And needless to say I will DEFINITELY make sure I heparinize next time. Side note: I just precepted someone last week and let them know you are still constantly learning in this field and you will never know everything. Boy, is that the truth or what!

Hopefully the light of day will clarify your memory. I've had those second guesses, usually when I've been multi tasking mentally..Can you recall wasting it or seeing it laying it there unused? I hate that middle of the night anxiety and I'm sure we've all had it.

Quote from Libby1987Hopefully the light of day will clarify your memory. I've had those second guesses, usually when I've been multi tasking mentally..Can you recall wasting it or seeing it laying it there unused? I hate that middle of the night anxiety and I'm sure we've all had it.

Don't stress so much--what's done is done! Learn from it, that's all you can do at this point. Anyway, I've flushed small (pedi) ports without heparin and never known one to clot off--the main thing is locking with positive pressure to prevent backflow of blood. Even if it does clot, it can probably be cleared with thrombolytic.

Quote from CryssieDDon't stress so much--what's done is done! Learn from it, that's all you can do at this point. Anyway, I've flushed small (pedi) ports without heparin and never known one to clot off--the main thing is locking with positive pressure to prevent backflow of blood. Even if it does clot, it can probably be cleared with thrombolytic.