Assessing and Flushing a Peripheral Intravenous Line

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1. General procedure considerations (review in the room, with the patient).

As always, before the patient encounter, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Use hand sanitizer, applying vigorous friction, if the hands are not visibly soiled.
At the bedside computer, review the patient's medical history and confirm that the patient continues to require IV access.
Review the maintenance IV fluid orders in the Medication Administration Record (MAR).
1. If the patient currently receives maintenance fluid via the IV line, confirm that the patient needs to continue the IV fluid therapy. This is accomplished by reviewing the patient's intake and output balance; assessing vital signs, skin turgor, and mucus membranes; and reviewing serum laboratory results.
Wash hands as described above (step 1.1) upon leaving the patient's room.

2. In the medication preparation area, obtain a 10-mL normal saline flush and alcohol wipes.

3. Assessing and flushing the patient's IV line. Upon first entering the patient's room, set the supplies down on the counter and wash your hands, as described in step 1.1.

Assess the peripheral IV insertion site.
1. Inspect the IV catheter insertion site for redness, swelling, or bruising. Redness can indicate irritation, inflammation, infection, or thrombus formation. Bruising may indicate that a hematoma has developed and may cause damage to surrounding tissues.
2. Assess the condition of the transparent catheter dressing. The dressing should be clean, dry, and adhere securely to the skin around the IV catheter insertion site. Loose, wet, or soiled dressings should be changed using aseptic technique.
3. Assess for tenderness and swelling.
  1. Gently palpate the area around the IV catheter insertion site and ask the patient if the area is tender or painful. Tenderness may indicate that the insertion site has become inflamed or infected.
  2. With one hand, gently palpate the area around the IV catheter insertion site and, with the other hand, simultaneously palpate the same area on the other limb. Compare both sides.
  3. As you are palpating, assess to the temperature (i.e., increased or decreased), skin texture (i.e., soft, boggy, or tight), and swelling (i.e., whether there are differences in size between the two limbs). Increased temperature may indicate inflammation or infection, while decreased temperature and bogginess may indicate infiltration. Both conditions indicate that the PIV must be discontinued.
Flush the PIV.
1. Before proceeding to the next step, wash your hands, as described in step 1.1, and put on clean gloves.
2. Prepare 0.9% saline flush.
  1. Open the package of a 0.9% saline syringe. Holding the syringe with your dominant hand, unscrew and remove the syringe cap with your non-dominant hand. Place the cap upright on a table/counter, taking care not to contaminate the end of the cap. Gently turn the plunger to break the seal.
  2. Holding the syringe upright with your non-dominant hand, gently push the plunger with your dominant hand to expel the air. Pick up the syringe cap with your dominant hand, taking care not to contaminate the end of the cap, and gently screw the cap onto the 0.9% saline syringe. Place the 0.9% syringe on the table.
3. Cleanse the PIV needleless injection site.
  1. Open an alcohol wipe pack and hold it with your dominant hand.
  2. Holding the PIV needleless injection site with your non-dominant hand, wrap the alcohol wipe around the PIV needleless injection site and scrub the site with friction and intent (i.e., as if you were juicing an orange) for at least 15 s. Allow the needleless injection site to dry while continuing to hold it with your non-dominant hand, taking care not touch the site.
Flush the catheter with normal saline.
1. While continuing to hold the PIV needleless injection site between the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand, pick up the 0.9% saline syringe with the other hand, place the syringe cap between the middle and ring finger of your non-dominant hand, and unscrew the cap.
2. Attach the syringe to the needleless port by pushing gently to insert the tip of the syringe into the center portion of the needless injection site. Turn it clockwise.
3. Unclamp the PIV clamp by gently pushing the plastic clamp open. Holding the 0.9% saline syringe between the middle and forefinger of your dominant hand, use the thumb of your dominant hand to gently push the plunger to flush the PIV line.
4. While pushing the plunger, assess the PIV insertion site for leaking, swelling at the insertion site, and ease of administration. Ask the patient if he/she is experiencing any pain as the 0.9% saline is being pushed into the line. If any of these conditions occur, or if it is difficult to push the 0.9% saline fluid into the line, the IV site is no longer appropriate for use and should be replaced.
5. Continue to hold the needleless injection site between your forefinger and the thumb of your non-dominant hand and gently unscrew the 0.9% syringe from the needless injection port.
  Discard the used alcohol wipe and the 0.9% saline syringe in the garbage.

4. Document the peripheral IV site assessment in the patient's electronic health record.

In the patient's electronic health record, record the date, time, and location/site of peripheral IV site assessment. Record the assessment findings.
1. If the site is free of complications, document that the peripheral IV site is free of signs and symptoms of redness, swelling, and irritation. Document that the dressing is clean, dry, and intact, and that the peripheral IV line is patent and flushes easily.
2. If the site has complications, document the findings and patient responses. The peripheral IV line should be discontinued and replaced. The patient's primary care provider should be notified and appropriate actions taken to prevent further complications.

5. Leave the patient room and wash your hands upon exiting.

Overview

Procedure

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1. General procedure considerations (review in the room, with the patient).

As always, before the patient encounter, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Use hand sanitizer, applying vigorous friction, if the hands are not visibly soiled.
At the bedside computer, review the patient's medical history and confirm that the patient continues to require IV access.
Review the maintenance IV fluid orders in the Medication Administration Record (MAR).
1. If the patient currently receives maintenance fluid via the IV line, confirm that the patient needs to continue the IV fluid therapy. This is accomplished by reviewing the patient's intake and output balance; assessing vital signs, skin turgor, and mucus membranes; and reviewing serum laboratory results.
Wash hands as described above (step 1.1) upon leaving the patient's room.

2. In the medication preparation area, obtain a 10-mL normal saline flush and alcohol wipes.

3. Assessing and flushing the patient's IV line. Upon first entering the patient's room, set the supplies down on the counter and wash your hands, as described in step 1.1.

Assess the peripheral IV insertion site.
1. Inspect the IV catheter insertion site for redness, swelling, or bruising. Redness can indicate irritation, inflammation, infection, or thrombus formation. Bruising may indicate that a hematoma has developed and may cause damage to surrounding tissues.
2. Assess the condition of the transparent catheter dressing. The dressing should be clean, dry, and adhere securely to the skin around the IV catheter insertion site. Loose, wet, or soiled dressings should be changed using aseptic technique.
3. Assess for tenderness and swelling.
  1. Gently palpate the area around the IV catheter insertion site and ask the patient if the area is tender or painful. Tenderness may indicate that the insertion site has become inflamed or infected.
  2. With one hand, gently palpate the area around the IV catheter insertion site and, with the other hand, simultaneously palpate the same area on the other limb. Compare both sides.
  3. As you are palpating, assess to the temperature (i.e., increased or decreased), skin texture (i.e., soft, boggy, or tight), and swelling (i.e., whether there are differences in size between the two limbs). Increased temperature may indicate inflammation or infection, while decreased temperature and bogginess may indicate infiltration. Both conditions indicate that the PIV must be discontinued.
Flush the PIV.
1. Before proceeding to the next step, wash your hands, as described in step 1.1, and put on clean gloves.
2. Prepare 0.9% saline flush.
  1. Open the package of a 0.9% saline syringe. Holding the syringe with your dominant hand, unscrew and remove the syringe cap with your non-dominant hand. Place the cap upright on a table/counter, taking care not to contaminate the end of the cap. Gently turn the plunger to break the seal.
  2. Holding the syringe upright with your non-dominant hand, gently push the plunger with your dominant hand to expel the air. Pick up the syringe cap with your dominant hand, taking care not to contaminate the end of the cap, and gently screw the cap onto the 0.9% saline syringe. Place the 0.9% syringe on the table.
3. Cleanse the PIV needleless injection site.
  1. Open an alcohol wipe pack and hold it with your dominant hand.
  2. Holding the PIV needleless injection site with your non-dominant hand, wrap the alcohol wipe around the PIV needleless injection site and scrub the site with friction and intent (i.e., as if you were juicing an orange) for at least 15 s. Allow the needleless injection site to dry while continuing to hold it with your non-dominant hand, taking care not touch the site.
Flush the catheter with normal saline.
1. While continuing to hold the PIV needleless injection site between the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand, pick up the 0.9% saline syringe with the other hand, place the syringe cap between the middle and ring finger of your non-dominant hand, and unscrew the cap.
2. Attach the syringe to the needleless port by pushing gently to insert the tip of the syringe into the center portion of the needless injection site. Turn it clockwise.
3. Unclamp the PIV clamp by gently pushing the plastic clamp open. Holding the 0.9% saline syringe between the middle and forefinger of your dominant hand, use the thumb of your dominant hand to gently push the plunger to flush the PIV line.
4. While pushing the plunger, assess the PIV insertion site for leaking, swelling at the insertion site, and ease of administration. Ask the patient if he/she is experiencing any pain as the 0.9% saline is being pushed into the line. If any of these conditions occur, or if it is difficult to push the 0.9% saline fluid into the line, the IV site is no longer appropriate for use and should be replaced.
5. Continue to hold the needleless injection site between your forefinger and the thumb of your non-dominant hand and gently unscrew the 0.9% syringe from the needless injection port.
  Discard the used alcohol wipe and the 0.9% saline syringe in the garbage.

4. Document the peripheral IV site assessment in the patient's electronic health record.

In the patient's electronic health record, record the date, time, and location/site of peripheral IV site assessment. Record the assessment findings.
1. If the site is free of complications, document that the peripheral IV site is free of signs and symptoms of redness, swelling, and irritation. Document that the dressing is clean, dry, and intact, and that the peripheral IV line is patent and flushes easily.
2. If the site has complications, document the findings and patient responses. The peripheral IV line should be discontinued and replaced. The patient's primary care provider should be notified and appropriate actions taken to prevent further complications.

5. Leave the patient room and wash your hands upon exiting.

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Transcript

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The assessment, maintenance, and flushing of peripheral intravenous lines-in accordance with institutional policies and nursing standards of practice-is crucial once IV access has been initiated. With proper care and maintenance, PIV catheters may be kept in place for up to 96 hours in adults, and longer in children, as long as the lines remain patent and show no signs of complications. Regular assessment can prevent complications, such as infiltration, phlebitis, infection, extravasation, or catheter dislodgement. In addition, IV maintenance and flushing helps preserve line patency and reduces the risk of occlusion and thrombosis.

This video will demonstrate the steps included in the proper assessment, maintenance, and flushing of PIV lines and discuss the management of IV complications.

First, as always upon entering the patient's room, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or use hand sanitizers with vigorous friction if your hands are not visibly soiled.

Then, at the bedside computer, review the patient's medical history, confirming the need for continued IV access, and review the IV fluid orders in the Medication Administration Record, or MAR. If the patient is receiving maintenance IV fluids, confirm that this is still necessary by reviewing the patient's intake and output and assessing their vital signs, skin turgor, and mucous membrane and by reviewing their serum laboratory results.

Next, exit the patient's room, wash your hands as previously described, and obtain a 10-mL normal saline flush syringe and alcohol wipes from the medication preparation area. Then return to the patient's room, place the supplies on the counter, and wash your hands again.

The first step in assessing the IV catheter site is to inspect for redness or swelling, which can be a sign of irritation, inflammation, infection, or thrombus formation. Also look for bruising, which might indicate a hematoma that can damage surrounding tissues. In addition, assess the condition of the transparent catheter dressing, which should be clean and dry and securely adhered to the skin around the insertion site. Change the dressing using aseptic technique if it is loose, wet, or soiled. Next, assess for tenderness by palpating the area around the insertion site and ask the patient if it is painful. Pain or tenderness may indicate inflammation or infection.

Subsequently, gently palpate the insertion site with one hand, while palpating the same area of the opposite arm with your other hand, assessing for temperature, skin texture, and presence of swelling. Increased temperature and swelling might indicate inflammation or infection, while decreased temperature and bogginess might indication infiltration. These conditions indicate that the catheter should be discontinued.

Before proceeding with preparing the saline flush, wash your hands again, as previously described. Next, open the package of the saline flush syringe. Then, while holding the syringe in your dominant hand, remove the syringe cap with your non-dominant hand and place the cap upright on the counter carefully, so as to not contaminate the end of the cap. At this point, turn the plunger of the syringe to break the seal. Then, while holding the syringe upright, push the plunger gently to expel the air. Subsequently, pick up the cap with your dominant hand-taking care to maintain its sterility-and screw the cap back onto the syringe. Then place the syringe on the counter.

The next step is to cleanse the PIV needleless injection site. First open an alcohol wipe pack and hold it in your dominant hand. Then, hold the PIV needleless injection site with your non-dominant hand and wrap the alcohol wipe around it, scrubbing the site with friction and intent-as if you are juicing an orange-for 15 seconds. Continue to hold the needleless injection site without contaminating it while it dries. You are now ready to flush the catheter.

Pick up the saline syringe with your dominant hand and unscrew the cap of the syringe using your non-dominant ring and middle fingers. Next, attach the syringe to the needleless port by pushing gently to insert the tip of the syringe into the center portion of the needleless injection site and then turning it clockwise. Also open the PIV clamp. Hold the saline syringe between the dominant index and middle fingers and use the thumb to gently push the plunger, flushing the PIV line.

While pushing the plunger, assess the PIV insertion site for leaking or swelling and ask the patient if they are experiencing pain. If any of these conditions occur, or if it is difficult to inject the fluid, then the IV site is no longer appropriate for use. After the flushing is complete, continue to hold the needleless injection site with the non-dominant thumb and index finger and unscrew the syringe from the port using your dominant hand. Finally, dispose of the syringe and alcohol wipe.

The final step is to document the procedure in the patient's EHR, recording the date, time, location, and findings of the PIV assessment. If the site is free from complications, record the absence of redness, swelling, and irritation; that the dressing is clean, dry, and intact; and that the line is patent and flushes easily. If there are any complications, record them and notify the primary care provider. Finally, wash your hands again and leave the patient's room.

"Routine PIV assessment and flushing are important steps in ensuring that IV therapy can continue without complications. If any issues are noted during this assessment, the infusions should be discontinued and the patient's physician should be notified."

You've just watched a JoVE Nursing Skills Video on the assessment and flushing of a peripheral intravenous catheter. You should understand the supplies used and the technique for performing the procedure. You should also have a grasp of how to identify and deal with possible complications. As always, thanks for watching!

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