13.1: IV Therapy Management Introduction
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The purpose of intravenous (IV) therapy is to replace fluid and electrolytes, provide medications, and replenish blood volume.
The nurse’s responsibilities in managing IV therapy include the following:
IV medications and fluids enter the patient’s bloodstream directly through the vein. They act rapidly within the body to restore fluid volume and deliver medications. Once a medication enters the vein, there is no way to terminate this action. Therefore, it is important to properly prepare the IV medication or fluid, correctly calculate the dosage, and administer it safely to the patient. Additionally, IV fluid administration is considered a medical intervention and requires a medication order prior to the initiation of fluid therapy.