Intravenous Infusions & Flow Rates

Question 1

Venous Access - Indications

Answer 1

• IV fluid administration
• IV drug administration
• repeated blood sampling
• anesthesia

Question 2

Venous Access - Equipment

Answer 2

• Intravenous catheter
  
  • short-term
  • long-term
• Butterfly needle
• clippers & aseptic prep (scrub)
• gloves (sterile for long-term IVC)
• medical tape
• injection cap
  
  • +/- T-port

Question 3

Points to remember:

Answer 3

• check iv site often for swelling, pain, leakage
• flush unused IVC Q4-6hours with 0.5-3mL 0.9% NaCl +/- heparinized
• treat all ports aseptically
• remove or replace IVC as needed/directed

Question 4

IV infusion equipment - Electronically regulated

Answer 4

• NOT dependent on gravity
• infusion device
  
  • infusion pump
  • syringe pump
• special IV tubing may be needed
• power source
  
  • electric outlet
  • rechargeable battery
• alarm

Question 5

IV infusion equipment - Manually regulated

Answer 5

• gravity-dependent
• fluid bag
• IV solution set
  
  • calibrated to drop factor (drops/mL)

Question 6

Fluid Bags & IV Tubing - Primary IV Tubing

Answer 6

• IV solution bag
• drip chamber (spike)
• extension set with injection ports
• roller clamp

Question 7

Fluid Bags & IV Tubing - Secondary IV Tubing

Answer 7

• T-set connector
• Y-connector
• ‘Piggyback’ line - extension sets

Question 8

Fluid Labels - Common Abbreviations

Answer 8

• 0.9% NaCl: normal saline (NS)
• 0.45% NaCl: half-strength saline (1/2NS)
• Lactated Ringer’s Solution (LRS)
• Normosol - R: Regular (Norm-R)
• 5% Dextros in Water: D5W

Question 9

Fluid Labels - Electrolytes

Answer 9

• Expressed in weight/volume
  
  • mg/100mL & mEq/L
• Strength of saline solutions
  
  • based on SODIUM content

Question 10

Fluid Labels - Expiration Date

Answer 10

• on fluid bag itself (not packaging)

Question 11

D5W

Answer 11

• hypotonic crystalloid
• remember: dextrose is added to sterile water to create ISOTONIC solution for IV infusion
• however, dextrose does NOT contribute to plasma tonicity -> energy source for metabolically active cells so metabolized right away only leaving sterile water in plasma compartment
• STERILE WATER is HYPOTONIC compared to plasma

Question 12

D5 1/2NS

Answer 12

• hypotonic crystalloid

* remember: 0.9% NaCl is ISOTONIC saline. 0.45% NaCl or half-strength saline is HYPOTONIC in comparison