Reusable IV & Blood Product Simulation Bags

Valerie Nicholson

As a former nurse educator and simulation technologist, sourcing affordable, reusable, and versatile fluid bags in sufficient quantities is a significant challenge. These bags are essential for allowing all students to practice hanging IV fluids and blood products, while enabling educators to reuse supplies or adapt them for other skills/scenarios. Current medical education vendors offer intravenous fluid and blood bags at high costs, making it difficult to purchase the necessary quantities. This expense can limit student access to critical skills.

While researching various commonly used methods, I discovered by accident students were using inexpensive IV/blood bags as drink containers for Halloween parties. After purchasing my first set online for less than $25 (compared to several hundred dollars from medical education vendors), I repurposed them as blood/plasma bags in skills and simulation. They proved durable, easy to adapt to various IV lines, and highly versatile. I also used them to create 500 mL primary IV fluid bags, labeling them as needed for different scenarios. This approach allowed me to provide larger quantities at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, I incorporated these bags into the Caboodle Noodle, part of HomeGrown Simulation Solutions. Faculty and students were impressed by the convenience and ingenuity of this solution, appreciating its affordability and practicality for IV skills practice.

1. Identify cost-effective strategies for sourcing and utilizing reusable IV fluid and blood bags to enhance realism and accessibility in simulation-based education.
2. Design a multi-use IV bag system that supports fluid administration for repeated practice and evaluation of critical skills. Examples: Used for administration of IV fluids or blood products such as O negative or plasma, and reservoirs for fluid collection in IV skills task trainers such as the HomeGrown Solutions Caboodle Noodle.
3. Demonstrate the solution as a cost-effective and efficient tool in student demonstrations of correct preparation, verification, and administration techniques when hanging IV fluids, blood products, or medications according to institutional policy and safety standards.
4. Evaluate student competency in performing IV fluid and blood administration tasks using the reusable bag system during simulation activities.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the activity, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the benefits of reusable IV bags for cost reduction and improved realism in simulation.
2. Apply institutional safety standards when preparing and hanging IV fluids and blood products in a simulated environment.
3. Perform verification and administration steps accurately during IV-related simulation scenarios.
4. Assess student performance using the reusable IV bag system as part of competency-based evaluation.

• 50 pack of Halloween blood IV bags for drinks (12.6 oz capacity)
  • Packs include 50 bags, 50 labels, and 3 syringes

1. Purchase bags from competitive online vendors such as Amazon or Walmart.com.  Use keywords like: Halloween drink pouches, reusable juice containers, Halloween blood IV bags for drinks, vampire party supplies.

2. Gather supplies:

• IV bags (holds approximately 500 mL)
• Blood labels, clamps, and syringes to fill bags (often included with bags)
• Additional IV fluid labels needed
• Scissors
• Distilled water
• Red or yellow food coloring (for simulated blood products or plasma)
• Plastic golf tees
• Blood administration set, primary and/or secondary IV sets
• Optional: rubber bands or zip ties
  

3. Fill bags with simulated blood, IV fluids, or plasma using distilled water and food coloring as needed.

4. Insert a plastic golf tee into the fill line. For IV fluids, clip the  fill line shorter. For blood products, clamp on fill line, fold it down, and secure with rubber band if creating blood products.

5. Apply the appropriate label to each bag and store until ready for simulation.

6. Attach the bag to IV tubing, blood tubing, or the Caboodle Noodle as required for your scenario.

7. Drain all fluid from the bags once the simulation or skills lab is complete.

8. Fill bag with distilled white vinegar for cleaning.

9. Hang bags to air dry completely.

10. Bags are now ready for future simulations.