Intravenous (IV) therapy is increasing in skilled nursing facilities for several reasons. The number of IV medications is increasing and expanding to treat more diagnoses than ever before. The length of these IV medications may be a few doses, a few days, or the rest of the patient’s life. Medical diagnoses treated with a variety of IV fluids and medications include diabetes, heart failure, and many types of infections, which can be common among residents. Skilled nursing facilities (SNF) fill a great void when patients are not a candidate for home infusion services or when frequent travel to an ambulatory infusion clinic is not possible. Additionally, needs of current residents change and could easily include treatment with IV fluids and medications in your SNF. Value-based purchasing is being applied to skilled nursing facilities, after 10 years of experience in acute care hospitals. The focus for the SNF is on potentially preventable readmissions (SNFPPR) to an acute-care hospital. A quick look at the list of PPR conditions includes many that require treatment with intravenous infusions. Additionally, inadequate management of vascular access devices is well document to cause bloodstream infection and vein thrombosis. Central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) has been regarded as a preventable hospital-acquired condition for the past 10 years. Its occurrence in a hospital means significant reduction in Medicare payments to the hospital. Is your nursing staff prepared to safely deliver IV fluids and medications? Can they safely insert a peripheral IV catheter and correctly administer the prescribed therapy while preventing serious complications like phlebitis, infiltration/extravasation, nerve injury, and infection? We can help with a different approach... We combine online delivery with a skills lab, reducing classroom time while providing a valuable learning experience. The online course material is based on the familiar nursing process – one chapter each on patient assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The nurse chooses the time and place to access the course material online and has access to the material for a year. The goal is knowledge acquisition and critical thinking. After successful completion determined by passing an online exam, the skills lab offers a full day of practice in a structured simulation lab. Practice is guided by case studies and repetition is encouraged until the learner is comfortable. This is followed by a de-briefing session to discuss the specific skill and follow up on additional questions. The next Peripheral IV Therapy Skills day is March 28th. This offers a great way for developing IV therapy skills in your nursing staff. Register your nurses now to immediately begin the online class as its completion is required to attend the Skills Lab. Also atch for our next announcement about next blended learning offering - Central Venous Access Devices COMING SOON.
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Author: Lynn HadawayLynn Hadaway is an international thought leader in infusion therapy and vascular access, having been in this practice for more than 40 years. Her experience comes from hospital-based infusion teams, device manufacturers, and continuing education services. Her journal and textbook publications are extensive. She also maintains board certification in infusion nursing (CRNI) and nursing professional development (RN-BC). Categories
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May 2019
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