DELIVERING IV FLUIDS

EQUIPMENT

• Gloves and apron

• Fluid
• Administration set
• Prescription chart
• Patent IV cannula (5ml flush and
syringe)
• Drip stand
• Prescription chart

• Introduce yourself
• Confirm identity of the patient and check prescription chart
• Provide explanation of the procedure
• Informed consent
• Check the IV cannula is working and patent, flush with 5mls 0.9% sodium
chloride. Check arm for bruising, swelling etc
• Select the correct fluid as prescribed
• Inspect outer packaging, any breach of packaging do not use!!
• Check clarity of the contents- cloudiness, discolouration or particles may
indicate contamination
• Check expiry date on the bag
• Select the appropriate IV administration set. Standard set/ blood set
• Check the expiry date of the administration set
• Check packaging intact prior to use
• Clear fluid sets – change after 72hrs, providing that the set has not been
disconnected during that time (see TRUST policy)
• Blood transfusion set- during transfusion change set every 12 hours

PRIMING THE GIVING SET

• Wear apron and wash hands
• Wear gloves
• Open the fluid bag and lay on a flat surface (minimises the risk of puncturing
the bag)
• Check integrity
• Remove the bung/ cover from the fluid bag with a twisting movement
• Open administration set and check integrity
• Hold administration set in both hands and close the roller clamp
• Carefully remove the sterile sheath from the IV administration set DO NOT
TOUCH THE STERILE SPIKE
• Gently but firmly insert the spike of the admin set into the bag of fluid using a
twisting movement
• Ensure the main bag is punctured
• Hang bag on a drip stand
• Gently squeeze drip chamber to half full
• DO NOT overfill- difficult to see drops forming
• Open roller clamp to prime the line- ensure no air is trapped
• Close roller clamp when fluid reaches the end of the set and re- check for air
bubbles
• Remove bung from the end of the administration set.
• The end is STERILE DO NOT TOUCH
• Check cannula site, apply pressure on the vein above the cannula tip to prevent
blood back flowing when the bung is removed.
• Whilst maintaining pressure over the vein- with the other hand remove the
bung on the end of the cannula and attach the primed administration set to the
cannula
• Make sure the connection is secure
• Open roller clamp
• Check drip chamber to ensure fluid is running
• Check the cannula site for signs of leakage secure trailing administration set
• Document on infusion chart and fluid balance chart.