Intravenous Therapy and Infusion Services
Applies only if the governing body has added intravenous therapy to the Agency’s services. Sets the conditions under which registered nurses perform venipuncture and give intravenous fluids and medications (49 Pa. Code §21.12), including the list of intravenous medications kept by a committee of physicians, pharmacists and nurses; what licensed practical nurses may and may not do in IV therapy and how they are supervised (§§21.145(f)-(g), 21.145a, 21.145b); and safe infusion care in the home.
About this policy
- Policy number
- PA-HH-MED-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 49 Pa. Code §21.12
- Library
- Pennsylvania home health · 56 policies
- Category
- Clinical tasks
- Sections
- 19
In short
- IV therapy is given only if the Agency offers it, on a written physician order.
- RNs give only IV medicines on the list approved by the Agency’s committee of physicians, pharmacists and nurses.
- LPNs need a Board-approved IV course and may do only the IV tasks the State Board allows, never pushes, blood starts or central line insertion.
- LPNs give IV care only to stable patients and call the RN at once if the patient becomes unstable or shows signs of a line infection or clot.
- Record the time, the fluid or medicine, the amount and any reaction for every infusion.
What's inside
19 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (49 Pa. Code §21.12)
- 5. Orders
- 6. IV Medication List and Committee
- 7. Registered Nurse Competency and Practice
- 8. What a Licensed Practical Nurse May Do
- 9. What a Licensed Practical Nurse May Never Do
- 10. Supervision of LPNs in IV Therapy
- 11. Infusion Care and Safety in the Home
- 12. Responsibilities
- 13. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 14. Staff Training
- 15. References
- 16. Related Policies and Forms
- 17. Approval
- 18. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Do you provide IV therapy? Show me the list of IV medications your RNs may give, and who approved it.
- Which IV functions may your LPNs perform, and what training do they have?
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