Question | Answer |
What is the goal of IV therapy administration? | Correct or prevent fluid & electrolyte imbalances |
What are the indications for IV therapy? | Poor tissue absorption, inadequate GI tract functioning, and need for maintaining medications at optimum levels |
What is the fastest way to get medication in to your patient? | IV route (oral is the slowest) |
What are the guidelines for monitoring IV therapy? | Ensure solution is infused at ordered rate, ensure correct amount of solution is infused, maintain catheter patency, monitor IV q4hrs, educate pt. to report pain, burning, redness, & swelling @ IV site |
Who can an LPN delegate assessing IV site to? | Nobody |
What is fluid overload caused by? | Increased infusion rates |
What can fluid overload lead to? | Death |
What are the signs and symptoms of fluid overload? | Dyspnea, rapid/bounding pulse, cough, disorientation, increased BP, crackles, pitting edema, weight gain, and decreased urine output, and distended neck vein |
What body system does fluid overload affect? | Respiratory |
What four groups does fluid overload affect? | Very young, very old, those with renal history, and those with cardiac history |
What is phlebitis and what is it caused by? | Inflammation of the vein, caused by mechanical irritation, low Ph of some IV solutions, and highly concentrated additives |
What are the signs and symptoms of phlebitis? | Erythema, warmth, edema, and discomfort |
What do you do if phlebitis occurs? | IV should be discontinued and restarted in a different site with new tubing and fluids |
What can you apply to the area of phlebitis to decrease a patients pain & discomfort? | Warm compress |
What must you have before you can apply a warm compress? | Physicians order |
How does phlebitis present? | Streaking formation and throbbing |
What is infiltration/extravasation? | Edema that does not subside at IV catheter site (indicates that catheter is out of vein) |
What are the signs and symptoms of infiltration/extravasation? | Discomfort/dysfunction, decrease in drip rate, IV site will feel cool and skin may have a blanched appearance |
What are the steps once infiltration is confirmed? | Wash hands, don gloves, discontinue site, and restart new IV in opposite extremity if possible |
What must you never do to an infiltration? | Apply heat/warm compress |
Why must you never apply heat/warm compress to infiltration site? | If the infiltration was caused by blood products or vesicants, it can lead to necrosis of the tissue |
What is speed shock? | Occurs when IV medication is pushed to rapidly |
What are signs and symptoms of speed shock? | Flushed face, headache, tightness in chest, loss of consciousness, and cardiac arrest |
Who do you notify and what do you do in the case of speed shock? | Physician / follow orders given to reverse |
What is an air embolus? | Occurs when air travels from IV line to vein |
What are the signs and symptoms of an air embolus? | Abrupt decrease in blood pressure, weak/rapid pulse, and cyanosis |
What is the treatment of air embolism? | Get emergency crash cart, notify physician immediately, place patient in a left side lying position with feet elevated and head of bed lowered (allows for reabsorption of air, if embolism is minor), have patient on high flow O2 (non rebreather mask) |
What causes septicemia/systemic infections? | Pathogens introduced into the circulatory blood stream. The result is septicemia (blood poisoning) |
What are the signs and symptoms of septicemia? | Fever, chills, prostration (extreme exhaustion), pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting |
How do you treat septicemia? | Vigorous antibiotic therapy |
What is the best way to reduce risk of infection? | Always use sterile technique when starting an IV |
What are the many factors that influence the gravity flow of IV solutions? | Air in tubing, kinked tubing, clotted tubing, infiltration of IV site, IV pole height, and needle position |
How do you ensure correct infusion rate is maintained? | Monitor infusions frequently |
What is the correct way to count drip rate? | Count drips for 15 seconds, then multiply times four |
What do you record when documenting intake of IV therapy? | Amount & type of fluid infused, and amount & type of new fluid infused |
When is the typical time to evaluate final assessment of IV fluids remaining in containers? | Approximately 1 hour before shift ends |
How do you refer to the amount of fluid that is left to count for the next shift? | LTC |
What is important to always include when determining fluid intake for your shift? | Partial bags, piggybacks, and push medications |
What goes on the I & O sheet? | Documentation of input and output |
What is narcan? | Antagonist drug that reverses the effects of opioids |
What is Benadryl? | Antihistamine |
What is morphine? | Opioid used to relieve pain |
What is Zofran? | Antiemetic used to reduce nausea/vomiting |
What are the six rights of medication administration? | Drug, time, dosage, patient, route, & documentation |
Where do you hang the main IV bag when hanging a piggyback? | Below the piggyback |
What are the steps to preparing IV piggyback? | Verify order for medication, dose & time, verify allergies, check PB label for length of infusion time, calculate drops/min or mL/hr for infusion, wash hands and follow standard precautions |
How much do you flush before and after PB? | 3 mL |
What is a PCA? | Patient controlled analgesia - continuous infusion of opioids into the blood stream |
What is basal rate? | Continuous |
What is the typical lock out interval? | 15 mins |
When are PCA's used? | Only when needed - usually by patients with terminal cancer, or other chronic conditions, also for short term treatment of surgical pain |
What is loading dose? | Dose given right away |
What do you assess with a patient who has a PCA? | Check patient at regular/frequent intervals, monitor patients behavior, vital signs, level of consciousness, and pain level |
What is the patient teaching for PCA? | Teach to use before the pain gets severe, how to rate pain on pain scale, educate about lockout interval |
What do you document when a PCA is used? | Setting of PCA pump, loading dosage, maintenance dosage, & lockout interval, shift totals, patient response to medication, patients pain level, and patient & family teaching |
When patient's PCA is discontinued, what must you make sure to do? | Waste all pain medication that is left PCA pump with another nurse immediately |
What is important to do before administering IV push medications? | Check for compatibility when being mixed into the same syringe |
If medications can not be mixed, what must you make sure to do in between each push? | Flush with 3 mL of NS |
What is a buretrol? | Device that holds limited quantities of IV fluids of medications |
Why is a buretrol used? | To prevent fluid overload in pediatrics and elderly patients |
What is a Hickman or Broviac catheter use for? | Obtaining blood samples and administer medications |
Where is a Hickman or Broviac catheter placed? | Large vein such as cephalic or internal jugular vein (tip extends to the right atrium (Always use sterile technique) |
What is an implanted port (Port-a-cath, Venoport)? | Surgically implanted port that is commonly used in patients who will require long term intravenous access |
What is a triple lumen catheter? | IV catheter that has three lumens |
What is each of the three lumens in a triple lumen catheter used for? | Transfusion lumen, blood-feeding lumen, and blood-removing lumen |
What is a central venous catheter (central line)? | Catheter inserted in a large vein until it reaches a vein near the heart |
What is a peripheral inserted central catheter (PICC) line? | Catheter inserted into a peripheral vein until it reaches the superior vena cava |
What is TPN? | Total parenteral nutrition, administered through central line, hypertonic solution |
What are the components of TPN? | Glucose, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. Fats can be administered separately through a Y-connector tube |
What is important to watch for when administering TPN? | Hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia |
What are the symptoms of hyperglycemia? | Polyuria, excessive thirst, increased urine output, and increased appetite |
What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia? | Cold & clammy skin, shaking, confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness |
Who may require TPN? | Patients needing highly concentrated formula, those needing IV feedings for more than 3 weeks, and those with unsuitable or unavailable peripheral veins |
What is PPN? | Peripheral parenteral nutrition |
When is PPN indicated? | Patient with nonfunctioning or dysfunctional GI track |
What are the benefits of PPN vs. TPN? | PPN is cheaper and risk of complications are less than TPN |
What is the most common reason for blood transfusion? | Replace blood loss |
What are the blood products that are most commonly administered? | Whole blood, packed RBC/ washed RBC, fresh frozen plasma & cryoprecipitate, WBC, platelets, protein & clotting factors, albumin & volume expanders |
What blood type is the universal donor? | O |
What blood type is the universal receiver? | AB |
What happens to a pregnant woman who is RH-? | Gets a Rhogam shot at 24 weeks |
What happens when the RH- pregnant woman delivers? | The baby's blood type is tested, if the baby is RH+, the mother will get another Rhogam shot within 72hrs of delivery |
If you have + antigen, what type of blood can you receive? | Both - and + blood types |
If you have - antigen, what type of blood can you receive? | Only - blood types |
Once the blood is removed from the blood bank, when must it be administered? | Within 30 minutes |
What do you infuse blood products with? | Normal Saline |
What is the length of time that blood products are allowed to run? | 1 1/2 to 4 hours |
What are the roles of the RN and LPN during blood administration? | RN is only one allowed to spike blood, and must monitor patient for the first 15 mins for reactions. LPN can monitor patient for reactions after the first 15mins |
When do most reactions occur when blood products are given? | Within the first 15mins |
What are the signs and symptoms of transfusion reactions? | "Not feeling well", chills, fever, low back pain, pruritus, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, decreased urine output, chest pain, dyspnea |
What are the steps if a transfusion reaction occurs? | STOP transfusion, keep vein open with 0.9% or 0.45% NS, notify charge nurse, dr, and blood bank of react. Monitor pt v/s & urine output q5-15mins, reassure the patient, prepare to perform CPR, obtain urine specimen, save blood containers & tubes, document |
What do you document when a patient experiences adverse reaction to IV therapy? | Time reaction occurred, patient complaints, and any signs or symptoms that are observed, notification of doctors, dr's orders, and patients response to those orders in the chart |
What are the steps to changing IV site dressing? | Provide privacy, gather supplies, wash hands, inspect appearance of venipuncture site for redness, edema, or exudate, apply transparent dressing over IV site, and document dressing change |
What are the steps in converting IV to hep. locks? | Verify order to change, gather supplies, wash hands, loosen & remove IV tubing from catheter hub, attach syringe to saline lock & aspirate for blood, fill access port with saline |
What are the steps in discontinuing IV therapy? | Verify orders, gather supplies, wash hands, close the valve on IV tubing, stabilize catheter while you loosen & remove tape, remove catheter, document procedure & pt. teaching |
What two items are required when assisting with blood transfusion? | Physicians order & informed consent |
What gauge is used for administering blood or packed cells | 18g |
What gauge is used for administering other blood products? | 18-20g |
Blood is normally administered through what type of infusion set? | Y-type |
How much NS is used on the other side of the infusion set? | 250 mL |
What is included in the Y-type infusion set (blood tubing)? | Special blood filter |
Why does blood transfusion need to be administered within the required time? | To avoid blood clots and bacterial growth |
What must the two nurses do prior to leaving the blood bank, after they have verified blood? | Sign blood bank requisition form |
What are the three areas a patient can experience pain that would indicate blood reaction? | Headache, chest pain, and pain in low back |
What happens to v/s during a blood reaction? | BP decreases, dyspnea, chest pain, fever, and chills |
What respiratory symptoms indicate blood reaction? | Respiratory rate and lung sounds |
What skin reactions indicate blood reaction? | Pruritus (itching) |
What are other symptoms of blood reaction? | Nausea, vomiting, decreased urine output, low back pain |
What are five major symptoms of fluid overload? | Dyspnea, rapid/bounding pulse, cough/crackles, disorientation, pitting edema & weight gain |
What are patient teachings regarding blood transfusion? | Reason for transfusion, how long transfusion will last, signs & symptoms of problems that need to be reported to nurse immediately |
Define platelets | are used to treat thrombocytopnea and hemorrhage |
Define whole blood | is to treat massive hemorrhage or hypovolemic shock due to hemorrhage |
Define serum albumin | is used to expand the blood volume in patients with hypovolemic shock as a safe volume expander |
Define granulocytes | are used to transfuse granulocytopenic patients or those who have severely deficient white blood cells |
Define packed red | are used to treat anemia |
Define plasma | is used to replace the deficiencies in coagulation factors and to treat patients with severe liver disease |