/Safe IV Hydration/Member of IV Drip/Ability to detect and handle situations for IV Practitioners

Ability to detect and handle situations for IV Practitioners

IV (Intravenous) practitioners are directly responsible for administering medication into the patient’s veins. This job requires meticulous attention, high precision, and a deep knowledge of pharmacology, anatomy, as well as aseptic techniques. Particularly, the ability to detect and handle situations plays a crucial role for IV practitioners.

  1. Common Situations During Infusion

Even though the infusion process is a routine medical procedure, it still carries certain risks and complications. Timely recognition and management of these situations are critical to ensuring the patient’s safety.

Common complications include:

  • Fever, chills: One common complication during infusion is the occurrence of fever and chills. The cause may be an allergic reaction to the infusion components or an infection at the needle insertion site.
  • Itching, rash: These symptoms are often due to an allergic reaction to the infusion components. The patient may experience red rashes, itching, and sometimes swelling.
  • Pain at the infusion site: Pain at the infusion site often arises from the needle irritating the blood vessel, infusion rate being too fast, or the solution being too thick. It may also be caused by phlebitis, where the patient experiences aching at the infusion site.
  • Hypertension or hypotension: The components in the infusion solution may affect blood pressure, or the patient’s underlying conditions may contribute. Symptoms include abnormal increases or decreases in blood pressure, dizziness, lightheadedness, and rapid heartbeat.
  • Edema: Over-infusion can lead to heart or kidney failure, resulting in swelling of the limbs, face, and abdomen.
  • Phlebitis: Poor hygiene, improper infusion techniques, or an irritating solution can lead to symptoms like pain, redness, and swelling at the infusion site, with the vein becoming hardened.
  • Thrombosis: The infusion needle irritating the vessel, thick solution, or limited patient mobility can cause pain, swelling, hardness at the site, and vein blockage.

Technical incidents:

  • Blocked infusion needle: Similar to a clogged straw, the infusion cannot flow into the patient’s body. The cause could be clotted blood in the needle, thick solution, or a kinked needle, affecting the treatment process as the infusion does not enter the body.
  • Leaky infusion line: Like a leaking water hose, the infusion leaks out. Causes may include a broken line, a kink, or improper connection. This not only wastes the infusion but also poses an infection risk if fluid leaks externally.
  • Pump failure: The infusion pump, like a water pump, pushes the solution into the patient’s body. If the pump fails, the solution will not flow. This could be due to a malfunction in the motor or other parts, leading to an interrupted infusion process.
  1. How to detect early abnormal signs in patients?

Monitoring and early detection of abnormal signs during intravenous (IV) infusion is critical for patient safety. To detect early signs, IV practitioners should:

Carefully observe the patient:

  • Monitor vital signs: When monitoring vital signs, focus on key indicators. Pulse rate reflects heart function; blood pressure measures the force of blood against vessel walls—high or low levels may indicate cardiovascular issues. Body temperature rises with infection or drops in cases of weakness. Lastly, breathing rate—if too fast or slow—may signal respiratory problems.
  • Observe skin and mucous membrane color of the IV patient: Changes in skin and mucous membrane color can be early signs of complications such as infection, drug reactions, or circulatory failure. Based on these observations, medical staff can adjust drug dosages, infusion rates, or report to a physician for timely interventions.
  • Ask the patient about their symptoms: In addition to observation, ask patients about how they are feeling to better understand their health status. For example, inquire if they feel pain, how intense it is, if they have a fever, how high the fever is, whether they have a cough, and whether the cough is productive. These questions help identify the patient’s condition and inform the next steps.

Check the infusion equipment:

  • Regularly check the infusion needle, line, and solution bottles to ensure the equipment is functioning properly and there are no abnormalities.
  1. Situation handling skills required

IV practitioners need specific skills to handle situations and ensure patient safety, including:

Managing common complications:

  • Handling allergic reactions, fever, chills: If the patient shows signs such as rashes, itching, difficulty breathing, high fever, or chills after the infusion, the IV practitioner must promptly administer anti-allergic medications, antipyretics, closely monitor the patient’s condition, and report to the physician.
  • Relieving pain and swelling at the infusion site: If the patient experiences pain or swelling at the infusion site, the practitioner should know how to manage it, such as changing the infusion site, applying cold compresses, and administering pain relief if necessary.
  • Managing sudden changes in blood pressure: If the patient’s blood pressure suddenly changes, promptly remeasure the pressure, check other signs, and report to the physician for appropriate handling.

Handling technical incidents:

  • If the infusion needle gets blocked or the line leaks, the IV practitioner must know how to replace it to ensure safe and effective infusion.
  • If the infusion pump breaks down, they must be able to troubleshoot or replace it with another pump.
  • In cases where the issue cannot be resolved independently, immediately notify the doctor or head nurse for guidance and support.

Reporting to the physician:

  • IV practitioners should regularly monitor the patient’s condition and promptly report any abnormal signs, such as changes in blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, skin color, and consciousness. They must also strictly follow the physician’s instructions to ensure proper and effective patient treatment.
  1. Factors Influencing Situation-Handling Ability

Several factors influence an IV practitioner’s ability to handle situations, including:

Professional knowledge:

Professional knowledge is a strong foundation for situation-handling skills in intravenous infusion. Just like a house needs a solid foundation, an IV practitioner must have deep professional knowledge to cope with complex situations that may arise. Professional knowledge helps them recognize early signs of complications like anaphylaxis or infection, choose appropriate methods, and communicate clearly with patients and their families about the purpose and side effects of the infusion.

Practical skills:

Practical skills directly impact an IV practitioner’s ability to handle situations, such as accurately performing steps, quickly responding to emergencies like anaphylaxis or blocked lines, and adjusting techniques when needed. Practical experience also aids in effective communication with patients and colleagues about infusion-related issues.

Psychological state:

A stable mindset allows IV practitioners to remain calm and focused, efficiently handling emergencies such as anaphylaxis or blocked lines. Conversely, stress or anxiety may hinder quick and accurate decision-making, potentially leading to errors.

  1. Importance of Situation-Handling Ability

The ability to handle situations is essential for IV practitioners as it ensures patient safety and treatment efficacy. Strong situation-handling skills will help:

  • Prevent and promptly manage complications during infusion.
  • Ensure effective infusion while quickly resolving arising issues like blocked needles or fluid leaks.
  • Build trust and cooperation from patients.
  • Enhance the reputation of the healthcare facility by providing safe, high-quality services.

In conclusion, situation-handling skills are essential for IV practitioners. They not only ensure patient safety but also contribute to improving healthcare service quality. To meet the increasing demands of healthcare, it is necessary to continuously practice and improve these skills.

Join the Club

Like this story? You’ll love our monthly newsletter.

Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Biên Tập Viên

Biên Tập Viên

Comment

Let We Know What You Thinking

You May Be Interested