Page 1185 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

several doses may be administered in a 24-hour
period.
5. Medications for IV administration are diluted
according to the directions accompanying the
medication and according to the pediatrician’s
prescriptions and agency procedures.
6. Infusion time for IV medications is determined on the
basis of the directions accompanying the medication,
the pediatrician’s prescription, and agency
procedures.
7. Determine agency procedures related to the volume of
flush (normal saline) for peripheral IV lines and for
central lines.

8. The flush volume (3 to 20 mL) must be

included in the child’s intake; the flush is usually
administered before administering an IV medication
and after the IV medication is completed and is
infused at the same rate as the medication.
C. Intermittent IV medication administration
1. Children receiving IV medications intermittently may
or may not have a primary IV solution infusing.
2. If a primary IV solution is infusing, the medication
may be administered by IV piggyback via a
secondary line and via an infusion pump or infusion
syringe device.
3. If a primary IV solution does not exist, an indwelling
infusion catheter is used for medication
administration, and the medication may be
administered by push or piggyback; medication
administration instructions must be checked for
dilution and infusion time procedures.

4. All intermittent medication administrations

are preceded and followed by a normal saline flush to
ensure that the medication has cleared the IV tubing
and that the total dose has been administered.

5. Electronic devices such as controllers or

pumps are always used to regulate and administer IV
fluids and intermittent IV medications.
D. Special IV administration sets
1. Special IV administration sets, such as a burette, may
be used for medication preparation and
administration via piggyback.
2. These special sets are all microdrip sets calibrated to
deliver 60 drops (gtt)/mL.

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