**ALWAYS establish patent IV access and flush PRIOR to mixing medication**
Pharmacy specific orders / instructions always supersede the Agency guidance provided below. If in doubt, do not guess, call our office, or tag @TeamHelp-CareCoordination and ask for Clinical Support.
ALWAYS establish IV access prior to mixing any meds
ALWAYS make sure you have everything you need to complete infusion before you begin
ALWAYS confirm your medication dose against the medication label and orders
ALWAYS reach out to us first (not the Pharmacy) with any questions
NEVER tell a Pt you have not given a particular medication before
MIXING
Obtain a clear/clean space to prepare the medication. Be sure all the necessary supplies are available to complete infusion from beginning to end. You will need IV start/ port access supplies, Stelara vials, sterile syringe and needle, 250ml bag of Normal Saline for dilution, tubing (gravity tubing or pump tubing if using a pump), in-line filters with 0.2 micron pore size Withdraw, and then discard, a volume of the Normal Saline equal to the volume of Stelara to be added (for 2 vials discard 52ml, for 3 vials discard 78ml, for 4 vials discard 104ml).
Stelara is supplied in liquid form in glass vials. Each vial yields 130mg/26ml.
Withdraw 26ml of Stelara from each vial needed and add it to the 250ml NS infusion bag. The final volume in the infusion bag should be 250ml. Gently mix. Visually inspect the diluted solution before infusion. Do not use if visibly opaque particles, discoloration, or foreign particles are observed.
Spike the IV bag with the proper pump or gravity tubing
ADMINISTRATION
**The first dose of this medication is given via an IV infusion. Please verify with the agency if you are giving the first dose. Subsequent doses are given via a subcutaneous injection.
Take baseline vitals and document basic assessment.
If this is the patient’s first dose, they will receive it via IV infusion. Infuse Stelara over a minimum of 1 hour or per order.
Record vitals every 15 minutes for the first hour and at infusion end.
Please remember to record lot numbers and expiration dates for vials used.
Disconnect patient, flush line, and remove IV, placing a pressure bandage at site. Clean and dispose of used supplies.