Advanced IV Therapy & Safety

This culminating unit integrates advanced IV calculation skills with safety, device selection, aseptic techniques, and professional responsibilities. Learners will consolidate mathematics for infusion and titration, perform safe IV procedures (including reconstitution, priming, and sharps handling), and apply medication-safety practices such as recognizing look‑alike/sound‑alike drugs and reporting adverse reactions.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze clinical signs of adverse drug reactions and IV therapy complications and accurately complete institutional reporting and escalation procedures within established timeframes.
• Apply mathematical methods (gravity infusion calculations, duration‑based rates, per‑minute dosing, and weight- and body‑surface‑area based titration) to determine IV flow rates and dosages with accuracy within clinically acceptable limits.
• Demonstrate aseptic and technical IV skills — including correct venous access device selection, line priming, reconstitution of medications, safe ampoule handling (avoiding coring), and appropriate sharps disposal — to meet competency checklist standards.
• Evaluate medication‑safety processes by identifying look‑alike/sound‑alike drugs, verifying the ‘rights’ of medication administration, seeking clarification when indicated, and applying professional responsibilities for special populations (e.g., infants).