A piggyback allows you to use a single line to administer a second fluid or medication. It also pauses the primary while the piggyback/secondary infuses. If you got a second pump and connected it at the y-site, both infusions would be going at once, which may or may not be desired based on what they are. The order itself should say whether this is to be run as a piggyback or not :)

@@LevelUpRN ok thanks so much for the helpful information

Some facilities require a flush bag with IV meds especially antibiotics so you’ll have to piggyback anyways.

That's called back priming, which isn't allowed in nursing school skills testing and shouldn't be allowed in the field because of the risk of diluting the medication ordered, which if it's diluted in anyway, then that's a med order

@@noelleabra147 if you think a little extra saline in a mini bag is a med error, then you’re going to be in for a BIG surprise in the real world. Good luck to you. 🤣

​@Noelle Abra that's how they taught us and I'm in nursing school right now.

It is allowed in my nursing program. Sometimes the instructors just want to give you hell…

@@noelleabra147I always back prime. A little extra NS isn’t gonna do anything 😂

Hello! Yes, This is Ellis in this video. Thanks for watching! 😊

The primary line is generally not running while the secondary or piggyback is running. This can be done using gravity (hanging the secondary drip higher) or most pumps are made to pull only from the secondary when it is programed. Not to confuse you, but there ARE pumps that allow you to run both lines concurrently (at the same time). So, it just depends on what pump you're using and what your patient needs! :) - Ellis

So how much do you set the primary to infuse for after the secondary is finished?

The facility I'm usually working at also uses a pump that allows for setting A or B without the need to adjust the bags for gravity. However, other types of pumps require the lowering of the primary for the secondary to run. It's good habit to always use the hooks, but just be sure if you're ever using a pump you're unfamiliar with that you ask for or look up how to use it! - Ellis

I usually try to show students how backpriming is done because they'll see it in clinical but do think learning to prime the line this way is still important! - Ellis