This is the part of the INS Annual meeting that I always look forward to. I am very grateful to all the vendors who were there whether they had something new to show or not because their products contribute greatly to patient care and safety. Their willingness to educate nurses is always appreciated. Just like…
The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) is celebrating its 40th year as the premier organization for infusion nurses. Through the years, this organization has gone through many changes, a name change from National Intravenous Therapy Association (NITA) , and yes, even the logos. But one thing remains the same, it continues to set the standards for…
Q: If I don’t get a blood return when checking a PIV for patency before administering an IV, does that make it unsafe to proceed? A: While verification of a blood return on a short peripheral IV is the common way to check for patency, sometimes, it is difficult to obtain a blood return in…
There’s a lot of reasons to love the month of May. The weather is warmer, flowers begin to burst into bloom and here are a few occasions to celebrate this month. 1. National Nurses Day is May 6 ,a day to honor the 3.1 million registered nurses in the United States. This year’s theme is:…
I am always delighted to get IV questions from colleagues on social networks. Occasionally, I post them on this blog in the spirit of learning. Here’s one on IV needle insertion. Q: Tell me do you insert a needle up or down? A: I am assuming the question you are asking pertains to the bevel…
I get questions from colleagues on social networks, while I don’t post all of the questions , there are times when I do post for learning purposes. Here’s one on “syringe re-use”. Q: It boggles my mind, how someone highly trained, a nurse, can use a single use syringe over and over and sometimes on multiple patients.…
These are devices designed to regulate the flow of fluid instead of using the roller clamp on the IV tubing. IV manual flow regulators are either part of the IV tubing or added on. Since these are regulated manually, these flow regulators are not “infusion pumps”. It does not function like electronic infusion pumps and…
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 states…
In case you missed it just like I did, spare a few minutes and watch this short video on how a 15 year old freshman in high school developed a paper sensor that could detect pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancer in five minutes for as little as 3 cents. There is hope in the…
A registered nurse (RN) license allows nurses to practice. Certification affirms advanced knowledge, skill, and practice to meet the challenges of modern nursing.Certification is a profession’s official recognition of achievement, expertise, and clinical judgment. It is a mark of excellence that requires continued learning and skill development to maintain. Today is a day to recognize board…
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