IV therapy is a treatment that infuses fluids, medications, blood, or blood products into a vein for treatment of a patient. It involves both invasive and noninvasive procedures.
Safety and the legal aspects of IV therapy are closely regulated by agencies and laws such as JCAHO, OSHA, CDC, NIOSH, and HIPAA.
Your role and responsibility related to IV therapy is regulated by your training, the scope of practice of your profession, your state, your place of employment and the licensed physician or other licensed health care practitioner. Always know what you can and cannot do.
The four most common reasons for IV therapy are to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, to administer medications, to transfuse blood and blood products, and to deliver nutrients and nutritional supplements.
Peripherally inserted catheters are used for short-term therapy; they provide easy access and are easy to monitor. Centrally inserted catheters are used for patients who need large volumes of fluids, long-term therapy, or multiple infusions.
