Chapter 8. Intravenous Therapy

8.4 Priming IV Tubing and Changing IV Fluids and Tubing

Primary and secondary IV tubing and add-on devices (extension tubing) must be primed with IV solution to remove air from the tubing. Priming refers to placing IV fluid in IV tubing to remove all air prior to attaching the IV tube to the patient. IV tubing is primed to prevent air from entering the circulatory system. An air embolism is a potential complication of IV therapy and can enter a patient’s blood system through cut tubing, unprimed IV tubing, access ports, and drip chambers with too little fluid (Perry et al., 2014). It is unknown how much air will cause death, but deaths have been reported with as little as 10 ml of air. The best way to avoid air bubbles in IV tubing is to prevent them in the first place (Perry et al., 2014). New IV tubing may also be required if leaking occurs around the tube connecting to the IV solution, if the tubing becomes damaged, or if it becomes contaminated. Checklist 66 outlines the process of priming IV tubing.

Checklist 66: Priming IV Tubing
Disclaimer: Always review and follow your hospital policy regarding this specific skill.
Safety considerations: 
  • Primary IV tubing can be macro-drip or micro-drip tubing. The drop factor of the IV tubing is required to complete the IV drip rate calculation for a gravity infusion.
  • Remember to invert all access ports and backcheck valve.

Steps

 Additional Information

1. Perform hand hygiene. This step prevents the transmission of microorganisms.
2. Check order to verify solution, rate, and frequency. This ensures IV solution is correct and helps prevent medication error.
3. Gather supplies. You will need IV solution, primary IV tubing, time label, change label, alcohol swab, and basin or sink.

Sterile IV solution
Sterile IV solution
4. Remove IV solution from outer packaging and gently squeeze. Tear the perforated corner of the outer packaging; check colour, clarity, and expiration date.

Remove IV solution from packaging
Remove IV solution from packaging
5. Remove primary IV tubing from outer packaging.
IV tubing
IV tubing
6. Move the roller clamp about 3 cm below the drip chamber and close the clamp.
Moving roller clamp
Move roller clamp
7. Remove the protective cover on the IV solution port and keep sterile. Remove the protective cover on the IV tubing spike. Be careful and do not contaminate the spike.

Remove protective cover off spike on IV tubing
Remove protective cover from spike on IV tubing
8. Without contaminating the solution port, carefully insert the IV tubing spike into the port, gently pushing and twisting.
Spiking an Iv solution bag with IV tubing
Insert IV spike into sterile solution using sterile technique
9. Hang bag on IV pole. The IV bag should be approximately one metre above the IV insertion site.
10. Fill the drip chamber one-third to one-half full by gently squeezing the chamber. Remove protective cover on the end of the tubing and keep sterile. Filling the drip chamber prevents air from entering the IV tubing.

Fill drip chamber
Fill drip chamber
11. With distal end of tubing over a basin or sink, slowly open roller clamp to prime the IV tubing. Invert backcheck valve and ports as the fluid passes through the tubing. Tap gently to remove air and to fill with fluid. Inverting and tapping the access ports and backcheck valve helps displace and remove air when priming the IV tubing.

Invert IV tubing when priming with solution
Invert IV tubing when priming with solution
12. Once IV tubing is primed, check the entire length of tubing to ensure no air bubbles are present. This step confirms that air is out of the IV tubing.
13. Close roller clamp. Cover end with sterile dead-ender or sterile protective cover. Hang tubing on IV pole to prevent from touching the ground. Keep the distal end sterile prior to connecting IV to patient.
14. Label tubing and IV bag with date, time, and initials. Label IV solution bag as per agency policy. Do not write directly on the IV bag.

Labeled IV bag
Labelled IV bag
15. Perform hand hygiene. This reduces the transmission of microorganisms.

Hand hygiene with ABHR
Hand hygiene with ABHR
Data source: Fulcher & Frazier, 2007; Perry et al., 2014.

Video 8.1

Watch the video Priming IV Lines by Renée Anderson & Wendy McKenzie, Thompson Rivers University.

IV solutions are considered sterile for 24 hours. An IV solution may be changed if the physician’s order changes, if an IV solution infusing at TKVO is expired after 24 hours, or if the IV solution becomes contaminated. To change an IV solution bag, follow Checklist 67.

Checklist 67: Changing an IV Solution Bag
Disclaimer: Always review and follow your hospital policy regarding this specific skill.

Steps

 Additional Information

1. Verify and select correct IV solution bag and compare to the medication administration record (MAR) or physician orders. IV solutions are considered a medication and must be checked using the SEVEN RIGHTS x 3, as per agency policy.

Sterile IV solution
Sterile IV solution
2. Introduce yourself, identify patient, and explain procedure. Proper identification of a patient prevents medication errors. Explaining the procedure provides an opportunity for the patient to ask questions.
3. Perform hand hygiene. Hand hygiene prevents the transmission of microorganisms.
4. Remove outer plastic packaging and squeeze bag to test for leaks and expiration date. Assess for precipitates or cloudiness. Hang new IV solution on IV pole. This ensures the correct IV solution is used.

Remove IV solution from packaging
Remove IV solution from packaging
5. Pause the EID or close the roller clamp on a gravity infusion set. Stops the infusion to prevent air bubbles from forming in IV tubing.
6. Remove protective plastic cover from the new IV solution tubing port. Keep IV tubing port sterile at all times. If IV tubing port becomes contaminated, dispose of it immediately and replace.
7. Remove the old IV solution bag from the IV pole. Turn IV bag upside down, grasping the tubing port.

With a twisting motion, carefully remove IV tubing spike from old IV solution bag.

Removing old solution from IV pole prevents spilling of solution.

Ensure IV tubing spike remains sterile during removal to avoid contaminating IV tubing.

 

8. Using a gentle twisting motion, firmly insert the spike into the new IV bag. This ensures that a sterile technique is used during the process.

Spiking new IV solution
Spike new IV solution
9. Fill the drip chamber by compressing it between your thumb and forefinger. Ensure the drip chamber is one-third to one-half full. Check IV tubing for air bubbles. Fluid in the drip chamber helps prevent air from being introduced into IV tubing.

Filling drip chamber
Fill drip chamber
IV tubing labe
IV tubing label
10. Open clamp and regulate IV infusion rate via gravity, or press start on the EID as per physician orders. Once rate is set, count the drops per minute on the gravity set or ensure the EID is running at the correct rate as per physician orders.

Regulating IV tubing is a roller clamp
Regulate IV tubing with a roller clamp
11. Label new IV solution bag as per agency policy. Time tape gravity IV solutions as per agency policy Labelling IV solutions provides easy viewing of infusing solutions and additives.

Labeled IV bag
Labelled IV bag
12. Dispose of used supplies, perform hand hygiene, and document IV solution bag change according to agency policy. Document time, date, type of solution, rate, and total volume.
Data source: Fulcher & Frazier, 2007; Perry et al., 2014.

Video 8.2

Watch the video Changing IV bags by Renée Anderson & Wendy McKenzie, Thompson Rivers University.

Checklist 68 describes how to change the IV tubing administration set and IV solution at the same time.

Checklist 68: IV Tubing Administration Set and IV Solution Change
Disclaimer: Always review and follow your hospital policy regarding this specific skill.

Steps

 Additional Information

1. Verify physician orders for the type of solution, rate, and duration. Collect necessary supplies. This step verifies the patient’s need for IV fluids/medications. It also confirms the correct rate and solution for patient safety.
2. Perform hand hygiene. Hand hygiene prevents the transmission of microorganisms.
3. Identify yourself, identify the patient using two identifiers, and explain the procedure to the patient. Proper identification of patient prevents errors.

Compare MAR with patient name band
Compare MAR with patient wristband
4. Prime new administration set using a new IV solution bag and new IV tubing. IV solutions are considered a medication. Prime as per Checklist 66. Keep distal protective cap attached to IV tubing to ensure sterility of distal end. Label IV solution and IV tubing as per agency policy.

Keep distal end sterile with sterile cap
Keep distal end sterile with sterile cap
5. Hang new administration set (primed primary line and IV solution) on IV pole. This prepares the equipment and adheres to the principles of aseptic technique.
6. Clamp old IV administration set. Remove IV tubing if on an EID. Stop the flow of infusion during tubing and solution change.
7. Clean the connection between the distal end of old IV tubing and the positive pressure cap. Scrub the area for 15 seconds and let it dry for 30 seconds. Proper disinfection of equipment decreases bacterial load and prevents infections.

Scrub the connection between the IV tubing and positive pressure cap
Scrub the connection between the IV tubing and positive pressure cap
8. Remove the protective cap on the distal end of the new IV administration set.
Removing sterile cap
Remove sterile cap
9. Carefully disconnect the old tubing from the positive pressure cap and insert the new IV tubing into the positive pressure cap attached to the extension tubing.
Disconnecting IV tubing from hub
Disconnect IV tubing from hub
10. Open the roller clamp on the new tubing to regulate flow rate, or insert new tubing into the EID and restart IV rate. This step ensures the IV solution is infusing at the correct rate.

Regulating IV tubing is a roller clamp
Regulate IV tubing using a roller clamp
11. Check IV site for patency, and signs and symptoms of phlebitis. IV site should be free from redness, swelling, and pain. Dressing on IV site should be dry and intact.

Assess IV site for patency
Assess IV site for patency
12. Discard old supplies and perform hand hygiene. This step prevents the spread of microorganisms.

Perform hand hygiene
Perform hand hygiene
13. Document procedure as per agency policy. Document the date and time of IV tubing and solution change.
Data source: BCIT, 2015b; Fulcher & Frazier, 2007; Perry et al., 2014

Critical Thinking Exercises

  1. How long can IV solution be used?
  2. What is the purpose of removing air from IV tubing?

License

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Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care by Glynda Rees Doyle and Jodie Anita McCutcheon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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