Intravenous therapy

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About the course

BMJ Learning offers a wide range of evidence-based learning modules on a variety of clinical specialties, covering the topics you face daily. These interactive modules will enable you stay up-to-date while training and testing your skills.

A subscription to BMJ Learning gets you access to these and hundreds of other modules for a year. Find out more and subscribe at learning.bmj.com

On completion of this course you should be able to:

  • Recognise the basic components of cannulas and their different gauges
  • Understand the relevant anatomy and common sites for peripheral intravenous cannulation
  • Know the risks of IV cannulation and understand safe technique
  • Understand the basic physiology of fluid balance
  • Know the dangers of hypotonic fluids in children
  • Adopt a safe system of prescribing, preparing, and administering injectable medications
  • Accurately calculate injectable drug dosages, rates of administration, and volumes of dilutant
  • Add a medicine to an intravenous infusion and set up a syringe driver.

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