Foundations of IV Therapy

This unit introduces the purpose, legal framework, equipment, and core clinical knowledge essential to intravenous (IV) therapy, including pharmacologic IV medications, blood component basics, and an introductory overview of chemotherapy. It builds on prior general patient-care knowledge and prepares students for advanced procedural skill units and clinical application in subsequent modules.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the purpose, indications, contraindications, benefits, and risks of IV therapy across common patient scenarios.
• Apply California legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements to IV practice by documenting consent, scope-of-practice limits, and mandatory reporting steps in case studies.
• Demonstrate selection, setup, and safe operation of common IV equipment (catheters, tubing, infusion pumps, filters) and perform aseptic techniques to reduce complication risk.
• Evaluate pharmacologic and product-specific considerations for IV medications, blood components, and chemotherapy agents, including compatibility, common adverse reactions, monitoring parameters, and immediate emergency responses.