Geriatric IV Therapy Course

Lesson 1 • Principles of IV Fluid Therapy

Introduces crystalloids, colloids, and blood products with their mechanisms. Connects fluid type selection to elderly-specific hemodynamic vulnerabilities.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Ethical Framework

Outlines professional standards, informed consent, and capacity assessment for IV therapy. Grounds clinical practice in accountability and patient rights.

Lesson 3 • Vascular Access Anatomy in Older Adults

Identifies peripheral and central venous anatomy affected by aging. Prepares clinicians to anticipate access challenges before attempting cannulation.

Lesson 1 • Identifying Contraindications and High-Risk Patients

Defines absolute and relative contraindications to IV therapy in elderly populations. Ensures safe patient selection before any access attempt.

Lesson 2 • Nutritional and Electrolyte Baseline Assessment

Establishes pre-therapy electrolyte and nutritional status to guide IV formulation. Prevents iatrogenic imbalances by anchoring therapy to individual baselines.

Lesson 3 • Hydration Status and Dehydration Recognition

Covers clinical and laboratory markers of dehydration unique to elderly presentations. Enables early identification before hemodynamic compromise occurs.

Lesson 4 • Comprehensive Pre-Therapy Patient Assessment

Teaches head-to-toe assessment focused on fluid status, skin integrity, and comorbidities. Links findings directly to IV therapy planning and risk stratification.

Lesson 1 • Central Venous Access Overview

Covers indications, site selection, and procedural steps for central venous catheter insertion. Prepares clinicians to assist or perform central access in high-acuity elderly patients.

Lesson 2 • Peripheral IV Catheter Selection and Insertion

Covers gauge selection, catheter materials, and insertion technique for fragile veins. Reduces insertion failure and tissue trauma in elderly patients.

Lesson 3 • Midline and PICC Line Placement

Explains indications, insertion technique, and tip confirmation for midline and PICC devices. Addresses longer-term access needs common in elderly care settings.

Lesson 4 • Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access

Introduces ultrasound principles for real-time vein identification and guided cannulation. Improves first-attempt success rates in difficult elderly access cases.

Lesson 1 • Fluid Prescription Principles for Elderly Patients

Teaches conservative fluid dosing, maintenance calculations, and replacement strategies. Anchors prescribing to age-related reduced cardiac and renal reserve.

Lesson 2 • Infusion Rate Calculation and Pump Programming

Covers manual drip rate calculation and electronic pump programming for accurate delivery. Prevents under- and over-infusion errors common in elderly fluid management.

Lesson 3 • Electrolyte Replacement via IV Route

Details IV potassium, sodium, magnesium, and phosphate replacement protocols. Addresses the heightened dysrhythmia and toxicity risk in elderly patients.

Lesson 4 • Monitoring Fluid Balance and Response

Establishes intake-output tracking, weight monitoring, and clinical reassessment cycles. Enables timely therapy adjustments to prevent fluid-related complications.

Lesson 1 • High-Alert IV Medications in Elderly Patients

Identifies anticoagulants, opioids, insulin, and electrolytes as high-alert IV drugs. Establishes double-check protocols and monitoring parameters for each category.

Lesson 2 • Drug Compatibility and IV Line Management

Teaches Y-site compatibility, flush protocols, and multi-lumen line management. Prevents precipitation, incompatibility reactions, and catheter occlusion.

Lesson 3 • Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Aging

Explains how aging alters drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Provides the pharmacological basis for all IV drug dosing adjustments in elderly patients.

Lesson 4 • IV Antibiotic Therapy in Elderly Patients

Covers renal-dose adjustments, infusion timing, and compatibility for common IV antibiotics. Addresses the elevated risk of nephrotoxicity and Clostridioides difficile in elderly patients.

Lesson 1 • Catheter Occlusion and Thrombosis Management

Addresses mechanical and thrombotic catheter occlusion causes and thrombolytic interventions. Maintains catheter patency and prevents deep vein thrombosis in immobile elderly patients.

Lesson 2 • Fluid Overload Recognition and Intervention

Identifies early and late signs of iatrogenic fluid overload in elderly cardiac and renal patients. Enables prompt diuresis and rate reduction to prevent respiratory failure.

Lesson 3 • Phlebitis: Prevention and Treatment

Covers mechanical, chemical, and bacterial phlebitis causes, grading, and interventions. Reduces catheter-related inflammation through site selection and infusate management.

Lesson 4 • Infiltration and Extravasation Management

Distinguishes infiltration from extravasation and applies appropriate interventions for each. Prevents tissue necrosis from vesicant and irritant drug leakage in elderly skin.

Lesson 1 • PN Admixture Preparation and Stability

Explains compounding standards, compatibility checks, and storage requirements for PN admixtures. Ensures safe product delivery from pharmacy to bedside.

Lesson 2 • Macronutrient and Micronutrient Formulation

Covers caloric, protein, lipid, and micronutrient requirements specific to elderly PN patients. Enables accurate formulation orders that meet nutritional goals without overfeeding.

Lesson 3 • Monitoring and Adjusting PN Therapy

Establishes laboratory monitoring schedules and clinical reassessment for PN patients. Enables timely formulation adjustments to prevent metabolic complications.

Lesson 4 • Indications and Contraindications for Parenteral Nutrition

Defines when PN is appropriate versus when enteral or oral nutrition is preferred. Prevents unnecessary PN use and its associated complications in elderly patients.

Lesson 1 • Quality Improvement and Outcome Measurement

Applies QI methodology to IV therapy practice using data on complication rates and adherence. Builds a culture of continuous improvement in elderly IV care delivery.

Lesson 2 • IV Therapy in Sepsis and Acute Illness

Applies fluid resuscitation bundles and vasopressor management to elderly septic patients. Balances aggressive resuscitation against fluid overload risk in compromised physiology.

Lesson 3 • Managing IV Therapy in Cognitively Impaired Patients

Covers strategies for maintaining IV access and therapy adherence in delirious or demented elderly patients. Reduces self-removal events and treatment interruptions.

Lesson 4 • Palliative and End-of-Life IV Therapy Decisions

Addresses goals-of-care conversations, comfort-focused hydration, and IV therapy withdrawal. Aligns clinical actions with patient values and advance directives.