Safe Administration of Intravenous drugs

Guidelines

As a registered nurse you are accountable for your own practice and should be familiar with the Nursing & Midwifery Council’s ‘Guidelines to the Administration of Medication.

Certificate

• All Registered Nurses prepared to give intravenous drugs must evidence in advance to the Employment Businesses compliance team a current, original certificate of competence in intravenous drug therapy authorised by a recognised medical organisa6on. A copy of the certificate will be kept on file.

Prescribed Medication

All medica6on to be given intravenously must be prescribed by the Service User’s Medical Practitioner.

Verbal Messages

VERBAL MESSAGES regarding drugs to be administered intravenously are not acceptable. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Intravenous Therapy

Details of intravenous therapy prescribed must be entered on to the Medication Administration Record, recorded and signed for when administered to the client.

Double Checking

• Wherever possible the medication to be given to the Service User should be checked and signed for by the two Registered Nurses present during the overlap at the shift change.

Updating knowledge

Training/Updating in Intravenous Therapy – It is vital that all nurses continually update in this area without evidence of updates we will not place you.