A registered nurse is reviewing unit protocols for safe intravenous (IV) medication administration. Which of the following practices demonstrate adherence to standard parenteral therapy safety principles? Select all that apply.
- Flushing the intravenous catheter with sterile normal saline before and after administering an IV push medication.Answer
- BSimultaneously infusing two different continuous IV medications through the same line without checking their compatibility.
- Calculating weight-based medication dosages using the client's current weight in kilograms rather than pounds.Answer
- DEstimating the required drops per minute for a gravity infusion based on past experience rather than calculating the exact rate.
- Consulting a reliable pharmacy reference to verify Y-site compatibility before hanging a secondary IV piggyback.Answer
- FAdministering a scheduled IV antibiotic to a stable client before assessing another client who just reported sudden, severe chest pain.
Answer
The correct practices are flushing the IV catheter before and after use, calculating dosages using kilograms, and verifying Y-site compatibility before administration.
Safe parenteral administration requires meticulous attention to detail. Flushing IV lines prevents mixing of incompatible drugs and ensures patency. Calculating weight-based doses in kilograms eliminates conversion errors. Verifying Y-site compatibility prevents chemical reactions between medications in the IV tubing.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Standard principles of safe parenteral therapy include rigorous compatibility checking, precise dosage calculation, maintaining line patency, and prioritizing unstable clients.