Continuing the commitment to set the standard for infusion care, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) released the 8th edition of the Infusion Therapy Standards of practice in January 2021. The overall format is similar to past versions with standard statements and practice recommendations (formerly practice criteria). There are 66 standards/9 sections and appendices such as…
In case you missed it, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) has published an updated position paper on The Role of Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) in the Provision of Infusion Therapy. UAP is the common term used to describe the various assistive personnel to whom physicians, RNs, and other health care professionals may delegate patient care activities,…
At the end of January, the snail mail delivered the eagerly awaited 2016 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice in my mailbox!! Finally… I must admit, I don’t have all the 2011 Standards of Practice (SOP) memorized – (shocking, I know) so I just had to pull my old copy out to compare and contrast. First thing…
I’m sure many, including the weatherman, won’t agree with this statement. It is still winter and not every one likes snow, ice and cold, especially for those in the East and North of the country. But for infusion nurses, this January is a good month and a great time to be in this nursing specialty.…
A: The goal when selecting the proper gauge of an peripheral IV catheter is to ensure that the best device meets the patient’s needs. This means taking into consideration many factors such as: Prescribed therapy/type of solution Duration of treatment Peripheral vein availability/vein integrity Diagnosis /Age Known complications of the device The Infusion Nurses Society standards of practice…
This is an updated version of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) hazardous drugs list. So what’s new in this current update? The text for the update to the 2014 list was updated and expanded to reflect the complexity of safe handling issues that have arisen over the past few years. This…
If you are a registered nurse currently working with/delegating/supervising “unlicensed healthcare personnel” (UHCP) also known as “unlicensed assistive personnel” (UAP), would you be interested in answering a short survey related to the use of unlicensed healthcare personnel in the provision of infusion therapy? The survey is open to US registered nurses from all healthcare settings who work…
Q: I am a new RN and was always told that I can use a BP cuff to distend the veins for IV starts instead of a tourniquet. Can you tell me how high should I pump the cuff? A: BP cuff is one method that can be used for vein distention while assessing veins…
Q: You will think I am a complete idiot but please explain when is a single use syringe considered used? I need to explain to my practice manager why I can’t re-use a syringe while reconstituting a powdered medication for injection. My practice manager is complaining that I am using too many syringes and needles which…
I know, this may come as a surprise to all of you, but the truth is, I have seen many nurses (even those highly trained and specialized) both in hospitals and outpatient settings, use the same alcohol swab over and over. Imagine this scenario where a nurse is ready to withdraw medication from several vials.…
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