CRNI Home Infusion Therapy and Patient Education Flashcards

When teaching PICC line care at home, which instruction is the highest priority?

Answer: Flush the catheter with saline on the prescribed schedule to maintain patency

Scheduled saline flushing per protocol is essential to maintain catheter patency and prevent occlusion in home infusion patients.

A home infusion patient reports the infusion is running much slower than prescribed. What should the nurse recommend assessing first?

Answer: Tubing for kinks and catheter for positional obstruction

Kinks in tubing or positional changes affecting catheter flow are the most common and easily corrected causes of slow infusion in the home setting.

Which symptom in a home infusion patient warrants an immediate emergency call?

Answer: Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or fever above 38.5°C (101.3°F)

Sudden dyspnea, chest pain, or high fever can signal pulmonary embolism, air embolism, or catheter-related bloodstream infection requiring emergency evaluation.

How should a home infusion patient properly dispose of used sharps?

Answer: In an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container following local regulations

Used sharps must go into an FDA-cleared sharps container and be disposed of per state and local regulations to prevent community needlestick injuries.

What is the purpose of the beyond-use date (BUD) on a home infusion IV bag?

Answer: It indicates the latest time the preparation remains sterile and chemically stable

The BUD set by the compounding pharmacist based on USP specifies the maximum safe-use window for the sterile preparation.

A patient receiving home IV vancomycin asks why they need regular blood draws. What is the best explanation?

Answer: Vancomycin levels must be monitored to ensure therapeutic dosing and prevent nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity

Vancomycin has a narrow therapeutic index, requiring serum level or AUC monitoring to achieve efficacy while avoiding nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.