2. Objectives
1. Define intravenous infusion.
2. Explain reasons for commencing intravenous
infusion.
3. Explain the indication for intravenous infusion.
4. List down equipment required for intravenous
infusion.
5. Explain in steps how to commence an
intravenous infusion.
3. Definition
It is an introduction of fluids into the
circulation through one of superficial veins of
the forearm, scalp, elbow or ankle.
4. Objectives
1. To supplement the body with fluids.
2. To administer blood products, medication
and nutritional components.
3. To maintain intravenous routes.
4. To maintain normal circulation volume.
5. Indication
1. Failure to take enough food or fluids by mouth
2. Failure to swallow e.g. unconscious patient.
3. When it is undesirable to take food by mouth
e.g. post operatively.
4. To maintain and correct electrolytes when
excess fluid is lost through diarrhea and
vomiting.
5. To keep the vein open for medication
6. Equipment
Top trolley
Bowl of swabs
Cannula
Receiver
Galipot with skin disinfectant
A pair of sterile gloves
Sterile giving set
7. Bottom trolley
A mackintosh or towel padded splint to secure the arm
or leg.
A litre of solution to be used
Tourniquet
Strapping and scissors
Fluid balance sheet
Receiver for waste
Latex gloves
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9. Procedure
1. Assemble all necessary equipment
2. Move the trolley to patients bed side.
3. Wash hands with soap and water
4. Connect the giving set to the infusion bottle
and suspend it on a drip stand.
5. Expel air from the giving set and clamp it to
avoid continuous overflowing of fluids.
10. 6. Select the site for the insertion of the
infusion.
7. Put on clean gloves
8. Apply tourniquet on the limb just above the
site
9. Swab the site with antiseptic.
10.Hold the cannula on your dominant hand
and with the non dominant hand secure and
immobilize the vein.
11. 11. Insert the cannula at an angle of 45 into the
identified vein and make sure that blood is
coming out.
12. Release the tourniquet with the non
dominant hand and withdraw needle slowly
with the dominant hand
13. Connect the infusion set to cannula.
14. Secure the cannula with a plaster
12. 15. Open the drip and let it run according to
the prescribed rate.
16. Splint and immobilize the limb if necessary.
13. Documentation
Label the intravenous infusion bottle i.e
Type of solution
Time commenced
Time of completion
Flow rate
Medication added if any
Record on fluid balance sheet and sign for all.
14. Calculation of flow rate
Total amount of solution x Drop factor
Time (hours x minute)
= Drops / minute
e.g. A doctor has prescribe to give 3000ml in
24hrs with a giving set drop factor of
20drops/min
15. 3000 x 20 drops
24 x 60 min
= 42 drops / minute
Note
Every giving set has a drop factor calculated
from the factory and is labeled on the pack.
16. TAKING BLOOD SAMPLE
Blood samples are taken for laboratory
investigation.
Equipment
Antiseptic swabs in a galipot
Syringe with a needle
Receiver for used swabs
Tourniquet
Gloves
17. Procedure
1. Explain the procedure to patient.
2. Assemble all necessary equipment
3. Move the trolley to patients bed side.
4. Label the specimen bottles.
5. Wash hands with soap and water
6. Select the site for the prick
7. Put on clean gloves
18. 8. Apply tourniquet on the limb just above the site
to be pricked.
9. Swab the site with antiseptic.
10. Hold the syringe on your dominant hand and
with the non dominant hand hold a dry swab
and immobilize the vein.
11. Prick the skin with the needle at an angle of 45
degrees and release the tourniquet when in vein
12. pull out the plunger to let blood collect in the
syringe.
19. 13. Withdraw the syringe when enough blood
sample has been collected.
14. Swab the pricked site with a dry swab.
15. Prick the rubber top part of the specimen
bottle with the needle to let blood move from
the syringe into the specimen bottle by vacuum.
16. Shake the bottle gently if collecting non clotted
blood sample. Vigorous shaking breaks blood
cells
20. 17. Thank the patient and leave him/her
comfortably.
18. Wash hands after the procedure
