Peripheral intravenous therapy management
Intended for healthcare professionals
CPD Previous    

Peripheral intravenous therapy management

Barbara Workman Senior Lecturer in the School of Health, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Middlesex University

Many nurses are involved in the management of peripheral intravenous therapy. Using scenarios of common presenting problems and evidence-based interventions, this article describes rationales for best practice. Readers are encouraged to critically appraise their own practice and to consider ways to improve the standard of intravenous therapy in their clinical area. This article first appeared in Nursing Standard, 14, 4, 53-60. Readers who successfully completed a written ‘practice profile assessment’ on that occasion may not do so again

Aims and intended learning outcomes

Nursing knowledge and practice in relation to peripheral intravenous therapy are inconsistent and variable, depending on local initiatives and clinical guidelines (Campbell 1998a, Clayton et al 1999). The three fundamental principles of care for intravenous therapy (IVT) can be summarised as asepsis, comfort and safety (DHSS 1976). After reading this article you should be able to:

Review the indications for peripheral IVT.

Analyse common problems of IVT and discuss effective clinical management and preventive nursing measures for these problems.

Discuss the information and education that patients and their visitors may require during a course of IVT.

Outline the nursing responsibilities while caring for a patient receiving IVT.

Emergency Nurse. 7, 9, 31-39. doi: 10.7748/en2000.02.7.9.31.c1311

Want to read more?

RCNi-Plus
Already have access? Log in

or

3-month trial offer for £5.25/month

Subscribe today and save 50% on your first three months
RCNi Plus users have full access to the following benefits:
  • Unlimited access to all 10 RCNi Journals
  • RCNi Learning featuring over 175 modules to easily earn CPD time
  • NMC-compliant RCNi Revalidation Portfolio to stay on track with your progress
  • Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
  • A customisable dashboard with over 200 topics
Subscribe

Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now


Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more