An adult client experiencing recurrent seizure activity is admitted to the neurological unit. The client has a single patent -gauge peripheral intravenous catheter infusing dextrose in sodium chloride at . The provider prescribes a stat loading dose of phenytoin intravenously. The pharmacy delivers the medication diluted in of normal saline. What is the safest method for the nurse to administer this medication?
- Pause the primary infusion, flush the catheter with normal saline, infuse the phenytoin over minutes, and flush again with normal saline.Cevap
- BAttach the phenytoin tubing as a secondary piggyback to the Y-site closest to the insertion site while the primary fluid continues.
- CProgram the infusion pump to deliver the entire dose over a -minute period to rapidly achieve therapeutic serum levels.
- DDelay administration until a second peripheral intravenous catheter can be inserted specifically for the phenytoin infusion.
Cevap
The safest method is to pause the primary dextrose infusion, flush the catheter with normal saline, infuse the phenytoin over 30 minutes, and flush again with normal saline.
The correct action is to pause the primary dextrose infusion and flush the line with normal saline before and after administering the phenytoin. Phenytoin is highly incompatible with dextrose-containing solutions and will precipitate if mixed, forming solid crystals in the tubing. Because the medication is prescribed as a stat dose for recurrent seizures, utilizing the existing patent catheter by clearing it with normal saline is the fastest and safest approach. Additionally, administering the dose over 30 minutes ensures the infusion rate remains below the maximum safe limit of .
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Phenytoin Intravenous Administration Safety