Intravenous therapy is crucial, especially for patients who cannot eat or take drugs, food, and other minerals orally. The process, however, involves careful study and supervision to reduce the risks that improve a patient’s life. Are you a student interested in working as an intravenous therapy nurse, and maybe you are wondering what it entails? Keep reading.
What is intravenous therapy?
Intravenous therapy is a medical method of administering medication, fluids, nutrients, and food to a person via the vein. For persons who can’t or do not want to eat water or food orally for other reasons, such as diminished mental capacity, the intravenous method of injection is frequently utilized to rehydrate or feed them with nutrients.
Intravenous therapy could also be used to rectify electrolyte imbalances or other types of medical treatment, like blood transfusions or electrolytes. Although attempts to deliver intravenous therapy were documented as early as the 1400s, the approach did not catch on until the 1900s, when its safe, efficient usage methods were developed.
History of intravenous therapy
Pope Innocent VIII received blood from healthy people after becoming ill in 1492, marking the first attempt to deliver a therapeutic ingredient intravenously. The ineffective medication killed the donors while failing to heal the pope. Some medical worked on the subject in 1656 by administering intravenous therapy to a dog, which was successful. This showed that blood could be transfused from an animal to a person and from person to person using IV therapy.
Guido Bacilli, an Italian doctor, improved intravenous therapy in the late 1890s; it was further advanced in the 1930s. Nonetheless, it was not commonly used until the 1950s. When fluid replenishment was formerly more likely to be accomplished with a Gastric drip or rectal infusion than today, it took many years for Intravenous therapy to gradually replace that method (approximately the 1910s through the 1920s).
Meeting a person’s fundamental nutritional requirements through an Iv injection first received serious consideration in the 1960s. The initial parenteral nutrition supplements were made of glucose and degraded proteins. In 1975, iv fat emulsifiers and micronutrients were added to create “total drug treatment,” defined as nourishment consisting of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
Intravenous therapy procedure
The most basic intravenous access method involves inserting a thin needle into a vein directly via the skin. This injector can be immediately linked to a syringe, enabling the delivery of a “bolus” dosage. An infusion can also be given by inserting the needle and attaching it to a section of tubing instead.
The size and thickness of the catheters and needles can be provided on French or Birmingham gauge. The gauge’s size determines how fast the process of delivering minerals and vitamins will be in the body.
What are the two types of IV therapy?
- IV drip
This is a type of treatment that is administered into the body slowly through the insertion of a plastic catheter into the veins. To administer the drip, a catheter, an expert inserts a needle into a vein and removes it quickly after a plastic tube gets to the vein. A patient can relax, read a book, or work during the process.
- IV push
This involves administering an intravenous push into a plastic catheter that has already been inserted. Intravenous pushes are done for up to 20 minutes with an average of 40mls of fluids being passed through veins. IV pushes should be supervised by a professional due to the nature of the processes.
Fluids and vitamins present in an intravenous therapy bag
Liquids available in an intravenous therapy bag depend on the sort of therapy you are undergoing. Intravenous solutions may have; vitamins, saline, minerals, and other medications. These are some typical elements of intravenous bags;
- Dextrose
- Saline
- Lactated ginger
- Vitamin B
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Antioxidants
- Antibiotics
The benefits of intravenous therapy
- Energy management
- Weight loss
- Hangover treatment
- Nutrient deficiency management
- Free radicals cleansing
Where to get intravenous therapy
You can have Intravenous therapy in various places, including;
- Hospitals
In addition to various forms of care, many hospital patients receive some form of IV therapy. Patients receiving IV therapy in hospitals are either there as inpatients or as part of an emergency.
- Urgent care centers
Urgent care facilities are equipped to address other minor crises. For instance, you might visit an urgent care facility rather than a hospital emergency department if you need sutures. In general, urgent care facilities are more affordable than hospitals. In an urgent care facility, you might get IV therapy based on your visit’s purpose.
- Medical spas
Medical spas provide a wide variety of treatments, from conventional spa services like massages to procedures like Intravenous therapy. The personnel working in spas are a mixture of medical and non-healthcare professions because it crosses between a leisure and a medical clinic. If you get an Intravenous drip, a medical expert should give you the medication.
- At home
Concierge services like Mobile Intravenous Medics visit you. You can receive Intravenous therapy in the convenience of your house rather than traveling elsewhere. You can probably get the service if you live in Southern California, Nevada, Texas, Florida, Chicago, or Florida.
- IV bars
Different Intravenous therapies are available at IV lounges or bars. Some of these treatment facilities are situated in fixed locations, while some are movable.
Different uses of intravenous therapy
- Strengthening the immune system
You can still become sick despite the immune system’s ability to ward off illness and maintain the body’s health. Intravenous treatment can bolster your immune function whether you are concerned about getting sick, particularly during the flu and cold seasons, or you already have a sickness.
Numerous minerals and vitamins are included in Intravenous therapy for the body’s immune support to help naturally strengthen the immune system, speed up healing, and lower your risk of contracting certain diseases.
- Treating hangovers
You can feel dreadful the following day if you overindulged on a night out. Hangover symptoms include a dry throat, throbbing migraine, upset stomach, and a desire to retain the shades drawn. A bad headache can make it difficult to focus and completely spoil your day.
Intravenous therapy is a viable alternative to the last-ditch measures of downing to drink water or take a cup of coffee accompanied by an over-the-counter pain reliever and retiring to bed. An IV bag for a hangover contains liquids to restore the body, minerals to boost vitality, and drugs to lessen the uncomfortable sensations of nausea, indigestion, and headache.
- Recovery of athletic performance
After a challenging workout, your body could feel exhausted and aching. Your body may need a boost if you participated in a marathon or went to the gym for a weightlifting session. Intravenous treatment aids in the recovery process for athletes after periods of effort.
Recovering numerous elements of Intravenous drip therapy are intended to aid athletes in their rehabilitation. While nutrients, amino acids, and antioxidants increase your energy levels and aid in the body’s capacity to repair any tissue injury, fluids assist you in rehydrating.
- Relieving colds and flu
Intravenous treatment might provide comfort if the cold or flu symptoms are dragging you down. An IV infusion for the cold and flu keeps you hydrated. Additionally, it contains minerals and vitamins that will support your immune system in fighting off the infection. Additionally, anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory drugs aid in the relief of unpleasant cold and flu signs like fever, headaches, body pains, and coughing.
- Alleviating the pregnancy symptoms
During pregnancy, morning sickness, which includes symptoms including nausea and vomiting, is a frequent occurrence. Various environmental stimuli, such as particular tastes, odors, room temperatures, or perhaps nothing, may cause the symptoms.
Although the pregnancy symptoms usually go away as the pregnancy goes on, they can still be bothersome and interfere with your normal activities. Fluids for rehydration, vitamins, and drugs to treat vomiting and nausea are all included in Intravenous therapy for morning sickness.
- Headache and migraine relief
Headaches and migraines can be very incapacitating. Although the precise cause of these diseases isn’t always known, typical triggers are stress, a poor diet, the surroundings, and some drugs. Although we can identify our triggers and make an effort to minimize them, headaches and migraines can still catch us off, guard. If you need relief from your severe symptoms, Intravenous therapy for headaches and migraines contains vitamins and drugs.
The nursing responsibilities for IV therapy
Nurses have the following responsibilities in managing intravenous therapy;
- Determining the best IV site
- Hanging and priming the IV bag
- Putting together and attaching a backup IV bag
- Calculating IV rates
- Supervising the progress of IV therapy
- Disconnecting the peripheral IV
Risks of intravenous therapy
Many people keep searching; what is the most serious risk of intravenous therapy? The process may involve several risks, such as;
- Infection at the site of injection
- Damage to the injection site and the veins
- Air embolism
- Blood clots
To sum up
Intravenous therapy is the fastest route to administer drugs, nutrients, and fluids directly into the bloodstream for absorption into the body. The first attempt at IV therapy began in 1600 but failed due to poor hygiene. Intravenous therapy can support immunity, flu relief, and treat hangovers, among other uses.
Do you have an assignment related to intravenous therapy or any nursing assignment and feel stuck? Reach out to proscholarly.com for help. We have experts to help you achieve your dream grades in all your nursing papers.