Infections & Intravenous Fluid Therapy

The digestive and urinary systems are important bodily systems as they have important role in the elimination of waste from the body. Any diseases or conditions which affect the functioning of these systems can cause problems for the person. The resident may become malnourished, may have eliminating problems, infections, organ failure and other problems.

Infections

Infection is one of the most common cause why resident’s health is compromised. Some of the infections may come from simple illnesses such as colds while other from complicated and more serious diseases, which in some cases be even life-threatening.

Infections of the digestive systems include disease in the gall bladder known as cholecystitis, hepatitis or infection of the liver, nephritis or infection in the kidneys and many others. These infections are severe and have symptoms such as intense pain, fever, vomiting, yellow skin coloring or jaundice.

Intravenous Fluid Therapy

Residents having infections should have proper treatment, fluids and nutrients in order for them to recover. Intravenous fluid therapy gives a direct access to the circulatory system which is needed for direct treatment and fluid needs of the resident. Intravenous fluids are connected in IV tubing and an IV catheter which is tapped in a specific vein site.

A sterile dressing is then applied to IV catheter in order to keep it in place. It is the role of the nurse to start, adjust and even discontinue the IV while it is a role or CNA to help with insertion, observe signs of infiltration, report signs of infection to the nurse and make sure there are no kinks and interruptions of the IV flow.

It is important to make certain that the IV solution should not be below the IV site in order to prevent a vacuum effect where blood will flow into the IV tubing.

When changing clothes of a resident with an IV line, be sure to maintain the IV connection by being careful so that they won’t be pulled or kinked. Removing clothes of a resident should start from the extremity with no IV line and ends with the extremity with the line while in putting a dress of the resident, start from the extremity with the IV line.

Report any signs of infection, infiltration or phlebitis of the site to the nurse in order for them to discontinue the IV line change it in another site.