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How to Handle Administer IV Fluids Step by Step

When administer iv fluids leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Gathering Your Supplies

1

Make sure you have an IV stand.

The IV stand is the tall pole with a coat hanger-like device that you will hang the IV bag on when you are preparing and administering it. In case you can’t find an IV stand and it is an emergency, you will have to hook the bag up to a place that is above the patient’s head so that the force of gravity helps the liquid to flow downward into the person's vein.

The IV stand is the tall pole with a coat hanger-like device that you will hang the IV bag on when you are preparing and administering it.
In case you can’t find an IV stand and it is an emergency, you will have to hook the bag up to a place that is above the patient’s head so that the force of gravity helps the liquid to flow downward into the person's vein.
The IV stand is the tall pole with a coat hanger-like device that you will hang the IV bag on when you are preparing and administering it.
In case you can’t find an IV stand and it is an emergency, you will have to hook the bag up to a place that is above the patient’s head so that the force of gravity helps the liquid to flow downward into the person's vein.
The IV stand is the tall pole with a coat hanger-like device that you will hang the IV bag on when you are preparing and administering it.

2

Wash your hands.

Turn the faucet on and lather your hands with soap and water. Start with your palms and work to the back of your hands. Make sure that you also clean the areas between your fingers. The next step is to focus on washing from your fingers to your wrists. Finally, rinse thoroughly and pat your hands dry with a clean paper towel. Observe "clean" procedures until you don gloves.

Turn the faucet on and lather your hands with soap and water.
Start with your palms and work to the back of your hands.
Make sure that you also clean the areas between your fingers.
The next step is to focus on washing from your fingers to your wrists.
Finally, rinse thoroughly and pat your hands dry with a clean paper towel.

3

Double-check the doctor’s orders again before you begin.

Gather the correct IV bags, including amount of fluid and type of fluid. (The materials are collectively called an IV administration set, which includes the tourniquet, needle, IV tubing, bag(s), and all incidental items needed, such as alcohol wipes, gauze, tape, etc. ) Giving a patient the wrong IV bag could lead to a life-threatening situation, such as an allergic reaction. Giving incorrect amounts or types of fluid of IV medication is also against The Nurse Practice Act. At minimum, an R.N. can be written up for any errors.

Gather the correct IV bags, including amount of fluid and type of fluid.
(The materials are collectively called an IV administration set, which includes the tourniquet, needle, IV tubing, bag(s), and all incidental items needed, such as alcohol wipes, gauze, tape, etc.
) Giving a patient the wrong IV bag could lead to a life-threatening situation, such as an allergic reaction.
Giving incorrect amounts or types of fluid of IV medication is also against The Nurse Practice Act.
At minimum, an R.N.

Part 2

Micro Details

1

Determine beforehand what kind of set you will need to use.

A set is the tube and connector that regulate how much fluid the patient will get. A macroset is used when you are supposed to give the patient 20 drops per minute, or about 100 mL per hour. Adults generally receive a macroset. Smeltzer, S. ET. Al.(2008). Brunner &amp; Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing.

A set is the tube and connector that regulate how much fluid the patient will get.
A macroset is used when you are supposed to give the patient 20 drops per minute, or about 100 mL per hour.
Adults generally receive a macroset.
Brunner &amp; Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing.
A set is the tube and connector that regulate how much fluid the patient will get.

Part 3

Preparing the IV

1

Prepare the IV bag.

Locate the port of entry (this is located at the top of the IV bottle and is similar to a bottle cap). The port of entry is also where the macroset or microset line will be inserted. Unwrap an alcohol swab to sanitize the port of entry and the surrounding area of the bag. Smeltzer, S. ET. Al.(2008). Brunner &amp; Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing.

Locate the port of entry (this is located at the top of the IV bottle and is similar to a bottle cap).
The port of entry is also where the macroset or microset line will be inserted.
Unwrap an alcohol swab to sanitize the port of entry and the surrounding area of the bag.
Brunner &amp; Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing.
Locate the port of entry (this is located at the top of the IV bottle and is similar to a bottle cap).

2

Pipe or insert the macroset or microset through the IV bag then hang it on the IV stand.

Ensure that the drip chamber is in place (this is the part of the IV line that collects the fluid going through the patient’s vein). This is also the part where medical personnel are able to regulate the IV to make sure the patient gets the right medication.

Ensure that the drip chamber is in place (this is the part of the IV line that collects the fluid going through the patient’s vein).
This is also the part where medical personnel are able to regulate the IV to make sure the patient gets the right medication.
Ensure that the drip chamber is in place (this is the part of the IV line that collects the fluid going through the patient’s vein).
This is also the part where medical personnel are able to regulate the IV to make sure the patient gets the right medication.
Ensure that the drip chamber is in place (this is the part of the IV line that collects the fluid going through the patient’s vein).

3

Hold the needle end of the tubing over the waste basket.

Be careful that no part of the tubing touches the floor or any surface other than the patient's bed/mattress. Open the flow control--slowly--and let the fluid run through the tubing. Get rid of any air bubbles in the line. Make sure that the drip chamber is half-filled. Once it is half filled, let the fluid in the IV flow until it reaches the end of the line (this is to remove any air bubbles are are trapped in the line). Close the flow control when the fluid reaches the end. To "close" you will use the control valve to clamp the tube. Christina Massaro Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Expert Interview

Be careful that no part of the tubing touches the floor or any surface other than the patient's bed/mattress.
Open the flow control--slowly--and let the fluid run through the tubing.
Get rid of any air bubbles in the line.
Make sure that the drip chamber is half-filled.
Once it is half filled, let the fluid in the IV flow until it reaches the end of the line (this is to remove any air bubbles are are trapped in the line).

4

Make sure the line does not touch the floor.

The floor could have bad bacteria on it, even if mopped each day. The IV is sterile (as in it does not have any bad microorganisms on it). If the line touches the floor, the fluid in the IV could be compromised (meaning bad microorganisms could get into it and infect the patient).

The floor could have bad bacteria on it, even if mopped each day.
The IV is sterile (as in it does not have any bad microorganisms on it).
If the line touches the floor, the fluid in the IV could be compromised (meaning bad microorganisms could get into it and infect the patient).
The floor could have bad bacteria on it, even if mopped each day.
The IV is sterile (as in it does not have any bad microorganisms on it).

Part 4

Giving the Patient the IV

1

Position the patient.

Ask the patient to sit or lie down on the medical bed or chair, whichever they prefer.

Ask the patient to sit or lie down on the medical bed or chair, whichever they prefer.
Ask the patient to sit or lie down on the medical bed or chair, whichever they prefer.
Ask the patient to sit or lie down on the medical bed or chair, whichever they prefer.
Ask the patient to sit or lie down on the medical bed or chair, whichever they prefer.
Ask the patient to sit or lie down on the medical bed or chair, whichever they prefer.

2

Look for the best place to insert the cannula.

The cannula is the tube-like structure that you will insert at the same time as the needle, but the cannula stays in place after you take the needle out. You should look for a vein on the non-dominant arm (the one the person doesn't write with). You should look for a long, dark vein that you will easily be able to see when you are inserting the needle. Lippincott, W. ET. Al. (2007). Medical-Surgical Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! Weinstein, S. (2006). Plumer's Principles and Practice of Intravenous Therapy

The cannula is the tube-like structure that you will insert at the same time as the needle, but the cannula stays in place after you take the needle out.
You should look for a vein on the non-dominant arm (the one the person doesn't write with).
You should look for a long, dark vein that you will easily be able to see when you are inserting the needle.
Lippincott, W.
Medical-Surgical Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!

3

Clean the spot where you will insert the cannula.

Use an alcohol swab to clean the insertion site (the spot that you will be putting the needle into). Use a circular motion when you clean the spot so that you get rid of as many microorganisms as possible. Let the area dry. Still leave the tourniquet in place. Christina Massaro Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Expert Interview

Use an alcohol swab to clean the insertion site (the spot that you will be putting the needle into).
Use a circular motion when you clean the spot so that you get rid of as many microorganisms as possible.
Let the area dry.
Still leave the tourniquet in place.
Christina Massaro Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Expert Interview

4

Insert the cannula.

Position the cannula so that you are holding it at a 30–45-degree angle to the patient’s arm and vein. Hold the cannula like you would hold a syringe so that you do not accidentally pass it through the vein. When you feel a “pop” and dark blood appears inside the cannula, decrease the angle of insertion so it is parallel to the patient’s skin. If this is the first time you are attempting this procedure, make sure you are doing so under supervision.

Position the cannula so that you are holding it at a 30–45-degree angle to the patient’s arm and vein.
Hold the cannula like you would hold a syringe so that you do not accidentally pass it through the vein.
When you feel a “pop” and dark blood appears inside the cannula, decrease the angle of insertion so it is parallel to the patient’s skin.
If this is the first time you are attempting this procedure, make sure you are doing so under supervision.
Position the cannula so that you are holding it at a 30–45-degree angle to the patient’s arm and vein.

5

Connect the IV tubing to the cannula hub.

You should do this by slowly feeding the tubing into the cannula until you can connect it. Make sure that it is secure once it is connected. Slowly open the line so that the IV fluid goes into the tube and into the patient. You should also put tape on the tubing so that it stays in place on the patient’s arm. Christina Massaro Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Expert Interview

You should do this by slowly feeding the tubing into the cannula until you can connect it.
Make sure that it is secure once it is connected.
Slowly open the line so that the IV fluid goes into the tube and into the patient.
You should also put tape on the tubing so that it stays in place on the patient’s arm.
Christina Massaro Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Expert Interview

6

Regulate the drops per minute.

Regulate the IV drip rate according to the physician’s order. Usually in a clinic or hospital, the physician will order a specific rate, like millilitres per hour.

Regulate the IV drip rate according to the physician’s order.
Usually in a clinic or hospital, the physician will order a specific rate, like millilitres per hour.
Regulate the IV drip rate according to the physician’s order.
Usually in a clinic or hospital, the physician will order a specific rate, like millilitres per hour.
Regulate the IV drip rate according to the physician’s order.

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How to Handle Administer IV Fluids Step by Step