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Intravenous Therapy Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

IV Administration of medications, supplemental fluid, fluid replacement, electrolytes, or nutrients.

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Intrav­enous Therapy

Action: IV therapy involves admini­stering fluids via IV catherter to administer medica­tions, supplement fluid intake, give fluid replac­ement, electr­olytes, or nutrients.
Mixed IV meds in a large volume of fluid are given contin­uously or interm­itt­ently in small amounts of fluid.
IV bolus are given in small amounts of solution (conce­ntrated or diluted) and are injected over a short time (1-2 minutes) depending on the medication

IV Solutions

Isonotic
Have same osmolality as body fluids; can cause increased risk for fluid overload
Hypotonic
Can exacerbate a hypote­nsive state
Hypertnic
Irritating to the vein; can cause increased risk of heart failure and pulmonary edema

Advantaged

Rapid effects; Precise amounts
Less discomfort after initial insertion
Constant therap­eutic levels
Less irritation to subcut­aneous and muscle tissue
Permits use of large volumes of fluid for meds that need more fluid to dissolve
Permits use of meds that contain irritant properties such as chemot­herapy

Disadv­antages

Fluid overload is possible if the infusion is too large or rapid
Immediate absorption leaves little time to correct errors
IV fluid admini­str­ation can irritate the lining of the vein
Failure to maintain surgical asepsis can lead to local and systemic infection
 

Consid­era­tions

Older Adults; Taking antico­agu­lants; fragile veins
Avoid tourni­quets. use BP cuff to prevent hematoma formation
 
Instruct patient to hold hand below heart level
 
Avoid using the back of patients hand
 
Avoid rigorous friction while cleaning the site
Edema in extrem­ities
Apply pressure over selected vein to displace edema
 
Apply pressure with alcohol pad
 
Cannulate vein quickly
Obese
Use anatomical landmarks to find veins

Guidelines

Add medica­tions to a new IV fluid container, not to one thats already hanging
Never administer IV medica­tions through tubing that is infusing blood/­blood produc­ts/­par­ent­ernal nutrition solutions
Verify compat­ibility of meds with IV solutions before infusing a med through tubing that is infusing IV solution
Ensure the IV is patent before admini­str­ation.
Flush before and after admini­str­ation
Perform assessemts priot to admini­str­ation