Chapter 8: IV Therapy
8.5 IV Administration Equipment
Critical Thinking Exercises: Questions, Answers, and Sources / References
- What is the purpose of the back-check valve on primary IV tubing?
Answer: to prevent backflow of IV meds into the primary bag.
2. When is it important for the nurse to know the drop factor of IV tubing?
Answer: when running an IV by gravity.
3. What is the purpose of extension tubing?
Answer: extension tubing when attached to the IV cannula provide an extra length of tubing and often an extra clamp to allow for line changes with reduced risk of BBF exposure, trauma at the IV insertion site and air emboli.
4. The nurse has found the patient to have an IV administration set hung 96 hours prior. Explain the necessary next steps.
Answer: Primary and secondary administration sets should be changed regularly to minimize risk and prevent infection (CDC, 2017; Fraser Health Authority, 2014). IV tubing that is continuously used should be changed every 96 hours. In this situation prepare a new IV tubing and hang it. The nurse can even prepare the next IV bag with a new tubing and have it hanging on the IV pole ready to attach to the patient when the current bag is infused.
Sources:
Center for Disease Control (2017). Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections: Summary of Recommendations. https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/bsi/recommendations.html
Fraser Health Authority. (2014). Clinical practice guidelines: Intravenous therapy. http://physicians.fraserhealth.ca/media/2014%2005%2015%20IV%20Therapy%20CPG%20FINAL.pdf
Interior Health. (2012). Parenteral practices manual. http://insidenet.interiorhealth.ca/Clinical/parenteralccr/Pages/Manual.aspx
Perry, A.G., Potter, P.A., & Ostendorf, W. (2017). Clinical skills and nursing techniques (9th ed). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier-Mosby
