Medication administration can be done in various ways – orally, sublingually, through intramuscular injections, etc. However, IV push, a type of intravenous therapy, is the quickest method to provide immediate relief to a patient in an emergency. But what is IV push, and how does it work?
An IV push might be effective in emergencies where the patient is unresponsive and requires immediate medicine administration. So, we’ll explain in-depth how IV push is used, the precautions to take, and the advantages of this medication administration method.
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What Is IV Push?
An IV push is the administration of medicine directly to the bloodstream. The goal is to deliver the IV solution to the patient by bypassing the first-pass effect or the time required for the organism to metabolize the medication.
There are various types of IV therapy depending on the use case. However, two that are used interchangeably when they actually have two different meanings are IV push and IV infusion.
IV infusion relies on gravity and is designed to deliver medication over an extended period, e.g., eight hours. On the other hand, an IV push usually takes five minutes or less. So, a patient may require an IV push if:
They have GI dysfunction or malabsorption.
Are NPO (nothing by mouth).
Are unconscious.
Have suffered a heart attack or stroke.
An IV push is typically used in time-sensitive situations where the patient must receive medication quickly to prevent negative or fatal consequences.
IV push medication benefits
Now that we’ve explained the IV push meaning, let’s discuss the advantages of this administration method. An IV push might relieve nausea and make the patient feel better quicker than an IV infusion. This is because the medication doesn’t have to be delivered from the liver to the bloodstream to release its effects; the body immediately absorbs it.
In addition, IV push medication can be titrated, allowing the registered nurses to control the drug dosage more accurately by testing its effectiveness in a shorter span of time. If there are adverse effects from the drugs, there will be enough time to stop the medication flow thanks to the small volume administered.
Generally, receiving an intravenous push doesn’t hurt and may feel slightly uncomfortable compared to other types of fluid injection. Also, mobile IV therapy nurses in AZ can come to your house and administer the drugs instead of requiring you to go to the hospital, saving you precious time and unnecessary costs.
How Is IV Push Administered?
First, the nurse will flush the IV tubing with a salt and water mixture to prevent clogging. This is done before and after the IV administration to prevent potential blockages or infections.
Then, the nurse will remove the cap from the syringe, after which they will tap the syringe to move air to the tip. Next, the plunger is inserted to remove the remaining air and extra solution. The additional steps are as follows (you can read about them in detail in this IV push fact sheet):
The nurse ensures the needleless connector is sterile by wiping it with a sterile wipe for 15 seconds.
The medication syringe is then attached to the needle connector.
Finally, the medication is injected by pushing the plunger.
Hence, an IV push may be used to administer a range of commonly known drugs like:
Antibiotics like chloramphenicol and penicillins
Pain relief medication such as morphine
Chemotherapy drugs (this method is referred to as IV push chemo)
Antifungal drugs like echinocandin.
Risks and Precautions With IV Push
What is IV push adverse reaction? This happens when the patient gets an infection or a bad reaction to the medication.
Initially, it’s important to distinguish between allergic and pseudoallergic infusion-related reactions. The former may range from type I to type IV, depending on when and how the body reacts to the drug. On the other hand, pseudo-allergic reactions are unusual adverse effects from a particular medication that happen on rare occasions.
Depending on the symptoms and manifestation of the reaction, infusion specialists are able to determine the cause and the type of reaction. This allows them to mitigate the adverse effects as soon as possible and help the patient return to normal. As a result, they will adjust the dose or switch the medication administered through the IV.
Precautions to take during the administration
Nurses take certain precautionary measures to ensure that giving medication through IV push doesn’t result in an adverse reaction. Pre-administration considerations include checking the vital signs and pain level of the patient. The lab results are used as guidance to determine which medication would be most effective and in what dosage.
Before administration, however, it’s crucial to ensure that all other medications the patient takes won’t interfere with the IV push and have a counter-reaction. The skin around the IV must be disinfected and clear of swelling or pain. This is done by swabbing the injection site with an alcohol swab. Choosing the right type of catheter for the use case is also important.
For IV injections, nurses typically use a blunt needle to prevent needlestick injuries since the needle will remain under the skin for a short period of time. Lastly, the nurse will label the syringe, marking the patient ID, date and time of administration, as well as the type of medication given to the patient.
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Conclusion
What is IV push? It is a type of intravenous therapy where medication is given to the patient through the bloodstream in seconds. It is the quickest method, and the infusion usually lasts five minutes or less. This helps the nurse assess the patient’s responsiveness to the drug and ensure its effectiveness. This technique is not generally used in a mobile IV therapy setting, however this article is useful in understanding what an IV push is and how it is used in the medical environment.
Besides the potential benefits of IV push, a patient might also experience a bad reaction if the administration is not done carefully. Plus, thorough sanitization of the injection site and equipment and the patient’s condition and vital signs are crucial.
