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Difficulty: EasyPharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

A nurse is preparing to administer several intravenous (IV) medications to a client who has a continuous primary IV infusion. Which of the following actions demonstrate safe principles of parenteral medication administration? (Select all that apply.)

  1. Checking a pharmacological reference to confirm Y-site compatibility before attaching a secondary infusion.Answer
  2. Flushing the IV line with normal saline before and after administering an incompatible IV push medication.Answer
  3. Scrubbing the needleless access port with an appropriate antiseptic swab before attaching a syringe.Answer
  4. D
    Assuming all standard electrolyte replacement infusions are universally compatible with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
  5. E
    Estimating the administration time for an IV push medication instead of using a watch to time the exact rate.

Answer

The correct actions are checking a reference for Y-site compatibility, flushing the line with normal saline before and after an incompatible medication, and scrubbing the access port prior to use.
Safe parenteral therapy requires strict adherence to infection control protocols (scrubbing the hub), prevention of adverse drug reactions (verifying Y-site compatibility), and proper line maintenance (flushing to clear incompatible medications).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the need for compatibility verification.
Checking Y-site compatibility is required to prevent physical or chemical incompatibilities.
Precipitation in an IV line can cause emboli or inactivate the medications.
2
Determine the proper procedure for administering a medication incompatible with the primary fluid.
The nurse must pause the infusion and flush the line with a compatible solution (like normal saline) before and after the IV push.
This creates a fluid barrier that prevents the two incompatible medications from mixing.
3
Assess infection control and administration rate standards.
The hub must always be scrubbed, and the push rate must be timed precisely.
Scrubbing prevents the introduction of pathogens. Accurate timing prevents toxic peak levels and speed shock.

Key Concept

Safe Parenteral Medication Administration
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Topics

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

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