If an IV solution, medicated or unmedicated, falls behind or gets ahead of the ordered schedule, what should and shouldn't the nurse do? What are some of the concerns?
What will be an ideal response?
The nurse should not automatically readjust the flow rate. The prescriber orders the flow rate based upon the contents of the IV, patient heart, lung and renal function, diagnoses, and purpose of the IV, among other things. There are no approved "catch- up formulas" for any patient. The nurse is not prepared to evaluate all this. The patient condition must be assessed for symptoms of fluid or medication overload or underload. It's best to consult the prescriber promptly about ad-justments. Even abruptly slowing down a medicated IV can cause problems. Never open the IV to full flow to "catch up."
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