Home IV therapy nurses provide medical and nursing care for
patients in their own homes. Medication that is
administered intravenously is called IV therapy, and since
patients receive this care at home, the home IV therapy
nurse specialty was created. There is a huge demand for
this type of nursing since the cost for patient care is
diminished but the quality of the care remains high when a
home IV therapy nurse is involved in the patient's care.
Most people think that the home IV therapy nurse only
provides intravenous medication. For example, most of us
realize that any cancer patient receiving medication at
home is being seen and cared for by a home IV therapy
nurse. So what else does a home IV therapy nurse do?
In addition to administering medications to patients, a
home IV therapy nurse implements doctor's orders. These
orders may be diverse and usually consist of performing
venous and arterial punctures, administering blood
products, and providing the patient transparenteral
nutrition (also called total parenteral nutrition and
abbreviated TPN) via a medical infusion pump. TPN is
administered to people who cannot or should not eat due to
their illness. TPN provides essential nutrients and is
tolerated more easily by a patient who is weak or has a
compromised immune system.
Home IV therapy nurses also monitor patients for infections
at dressing and infusion sites, initiate emergency
treatment if needed, assess the patient for allergic drug
reactions, assess the patient for any medical complications
and alert the doctor when needed, and document the
treatment plan that has been carried out and how well the
patient has responded to that treatment.
IV therapy nurses work in varying settings, such as at
hospitals, for home health agencies, and at physician's
offices. The home IV therapy nurse must be technically
adept to handle patients with various illnesses and varying
conditions. This type of work appeals to a person who
craves autonomy, is creative, loves to educate patients,
loves to work in different environments, enjoys travel from
site to site, and communicates well with all people
involved in the patient's care. Empathy and compassion are
key personal traits that enhance patient care provided by
the home IV therapy nurse.
The educational training provided by a home IV therapy
nurse is essential for good patient home care. The patient
and family members can be trained by the home IV therapy
nurse to administer the IV medication(s).
Educational requirements desired for a home IV therapy
nurse are an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN),
a diploma, or a degree such as a Bachelor's Degree in
Nursing (BSN). Medical-surgical nursing experience is
desirable which should include IV, venous access, and
phlebotomy training.
Working as a home IV therapy nurse is challenging but
always rewarding. Consider this special niche in nursing
if you like to travel, educate patients and their families
and make a significant contribution to patient care.
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Mary Ruff-King is an author who has worked in the medical
field for many years. Nursing is a field which is wide open
for opportunity and advancement. For further information on
nursing specialty fields and related articles/information,
about nursing schools please visit
http://www.nursingmasterycenter.com
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