Intravenous Therapy City Health

Course outcomes

You will learn to:

• List the indications for administering drugs via the intravenous (IV) route;
• Discuss the professional issues for registered nurses delivering IV therapy;
• Use mathematical calculations related to the administration of IV therapy;
• Discuss the differences between peripheral and central vascular access;
• Describe the anatomical positioning and components of a skin-tunnelled central venous access device and an implantable injection port;
• Define bolus and intermittent infusion in the context of intravenous therapy;
• Describe the principles of care for a VAD insertion site.
• Describe the principles of aseptic non-touch technique in IV administration practice;
• Demonstrate aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) to reconstitute a powder drug for intravenous administration;
• Demonstrate ANTT in the administration of a bolus and a free-flow intermittent infusion;
• Explain the local and systemic complications of IV drug therapy.

Eligibility

Prerequisite knowledge

The course is designed for registered practitioners whose role (or potential role) involves the administration of medications/fluid/blood products via the intravenous route.

Assessment

• PowerPoint lecture;
• Question and answer;
• Group discussion;
• Demonstration of skills by the tutor;
• Practice of skills within a skills-lab environment.

Assessment is ongoing.

Recommended reading

Dougherty, L., Lamb, J. (2008) Intravenous therapy in nursing practice. 2nd Ed. Blackwell publishing. Oxford.

Greenstein, B (2009) Trounce’s clinical pharmacology for nurses. 18th Ed. Churchill Livingstone.

Hudman, L., Bodenham, A. (2013) Practical aspects of long-term venous access. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain. 13 (1) 6-11

Kelly, L. (2008) The care of vascular access devices in community care. British Journal of Community Nursing. 13 (5), 198-205

Loveday, H, Wilson, J, Pratt, R, Golsorkhi, M, Tingle, A, Bak, J, Browne, J, Prieto, J, Wilcox, M (2014) epic3: National Evidence-Based Guidelines for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections in NHS Hospitals in England. Journal of Hospital Infection 86S1, S1-S70

McKay, G., Reid, L., Walters, M. (2010). Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. 8th Ed. Wiley-Blackwell. West Sussex.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2010) Standards for medicines management. NMC. London

Ogston-Tuck, S. (2012) Intravenous therapy: guidance on devices, management and care. British Journal of Community Nursing. 17 (10), 474-484

Royal College of Nursing. (2010) Standards for infusion therapy. 3rd Ed. RCN. London

Scales, K. (2010) Central venous access devices: Part 2 for intermediate and long-term use. British Journal of Nursing. 19 (5), S20-S25

Tripathi, R., Rooney, K. (2011) Policy for intravenous administration of medication: adults and children. East London Foundation NHS Trust