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13.1: IV Therapy Management Introduction
Opening the book…
Learning Objectives
Inspect established IV site for deviations from normal
Prepare and safely administer primary and secondary IV fluids and medication
Calculate and ensure designated flow rate
Change IV tubing
Change IV site dressing
Discontinue short-term peripheral IV
Modify the procedure to reflect variations across the life span
Document actions and observation
Report significant deviations from norms
The purpose of intravenous (IV) therapy is to replace fluid and electrolytes, provide medications, and replenish blood volume.
The nurse’s responsibilities in managing IV therapy include the following:
assessing an IV site
priming and hanging a primary IV bag
preparing and hanging a secondary IV bag
calculating IV rates
monitoring the effectiveness of IV therapy
discontinuing a peripheral IV
IV medications and fluids enter the patient’s bloodstream directly through the vein. They act rapidly within the body to restore fluid volume and deliver medications. Once a medication enters the vein, there is no way to terminate this action. Therefore, it is important to properly prepare the IV medication or fluid, correctly calculate the dosage, and administer it safely to the patient. Additionally, IV fluid administration is considered a medical intervention and requires a medication order prior to the initiation of fluid therapy.