Q&A: IO and Blood Transfusion

Q:  A twitter colleague posted:  Can you give blood through an IO? A:  IO as in intraosseous access. An old concept that is now getting more attention as an alternate access for infusion therapy in emergent and non-emergent situations. IO access uses the intraosseous space that contains thousands of non-collapsible intertwined blood vessels that absorbs any fluids.…

Q&A: Tips to improve IV insertion skills

Q: Do you have any tips on how to improve my IV insertion skills? A: This is one of the FAQ and often comes from new blog readers. I have blogged about this many times before but I thought I’d post it again. To some of my long time readers, this may not be new…

Q&A: Insulin and PICCs

Q: What kind of IV solutions can be given through a PICC line? Is it safe to give Humolog insulin or should I start another IV line? A:  PICC is short for peripherally inserted central catheter. It is a central vascular access device (CVAD) inserted into an extremity and advanced in the venous system until…

Q&A: PIV insertion

Q: I know I’m in the vein but get no blood return and when I flush with saline to check it blows. Can it be pt is dehydrated. A: The presence of a blood return during the insertion of a peripheral IV catheter is an indication that the tip of the catheter has entered the…

Q&A: PICC line dressing – clean or sterile?

Q: Can you please let me know if a PICC line dressing can be a clean procedure or does it have to be sterile? A:  First, I will direct you to your organization’s policy and procedure on central vascular access device (CVAD) dressing change procedure to determine the procedure to follow. If you can’t locate…

Q&A: How can I be “IV certified”?

Q: How can I be IV certified? If I attend an IV program, will I be IV certified? A: If I get a dollar every time I get asked this question, I would be a very rich infusion nurse!!  But seriously, the confusion about IV certification have been in existence for as long as I…