CVME Insider: Nursing Knowledge That Matters

Intraosseous Devices The recognition of   the   intraosseous (IO)  vascular access  device in fluid resuscitation and stabilization of patients has been underrated for quite some time. Intravenous therapy alone has made significant strides in the past forty years. The need to administer a wide variety of fluids and medications to a patient and affect their circulatory system is critical in the resuscitation of patients in an emergent situation regardless of their underlying disease process. Rapid  vascular access  is required for many conditions to include but not limited to hypovolemic shock, trauma,  anaphylactic shock  and cardiac arrest . There have been several “leading national and international organizations” that have published position statements as well as performed research studies to advance the cause of the IO. The IO has served to change the standard of care in the emergency room in regards to the quick need for  vascula...

Giving old mice young blood reversed age-related declines in brain function, muscle strength and stamina, researchers say Researchers in the US are close to proving that a type of infusion therapy can possibly reverse harmful aging processes in the brain, muscles, heart and other organs. It gives hope as three separate reports released by major journals on Sunday that demonstrate in experiments on mice the dramatic rejuvenating effects of chemicals found naturally in young blood. Infusing younger blood reversed age-related declines in memory and learning, brain function, muscle strength and stamina, researchers found. In two of the reports, scientists identified a single chemical in blood that appears to reverse some of the damage caused by aging. Although all three studies were done in mice, researchers believe a similar rejuvenating therapy may work in humans as well. A clinical trial is expected to begin in the next three to five years. "The ev...

Infusion Therapy is a growing industry and we have more and more patients going home with implanted ports, temporary dialysis catheters, and other types of Central Venous Catheters (CVC).  We get many questions regarding the scope of LVN's/LPN's and what they can and cannot do in regards to infusion therapy. For the sake of this article we will use the term Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) as this is what they are referred to here in California.  However, most states still refer to an LVN as and LPN or Licensed Practical Nurse.  That is another discussion in its entirety. California is one of the only states that we know of at this time that requires LVN's to gain an IV Certification in order to perform IV Therapy .  Pedagogy has a great link that one may use as a resource to determine what an LVN can and cannot do in regards to infusion therapy . Here is California it is illegal for a Medical Assistant (MA) to start an IV or even access a central ...

The CDC 2011 Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections CDC Recommendations In patients not receiving blood, blood products or fat emulsions, replace administration sets that are continuously used, including secondary sets and add-on devices, no more frequently than at 96-hour intervals, [ 177 ] but at least every 7 days [ 178–181 ]. Category IA No recommendation can be made regarding the frequency for replacing intermittently used administration sets. Unresolved issue No recommendation can be made regarding the frequency for replacing needles to access implantable ports. Unresolved issue Replace tubing used to administer blood, blood products, or fat emulsions (those combined with amino acids and glucose in a 3-in-1 admixture or infused separately) within 24 hours of initiating the infusion [ 182–185 ]. Category IB Replace tubing used to administer propofol infusions every 6 or 12 hours, when the vial is changed, per the manufacturer’s r...