IV Infusion Therapy Course

Lesson 1 • Fluid and Electrolyte Physiology

Explains fluid compartments, osmolality, and electrolyte balance. Grounds clinical decision-making in physiological principles used in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Ethical Framework

Outlines scope of practice, informed consent, and professional accountability in IV therapy. Establishes the ethical foundation governing all clinical actions in this course.

Lesson 3 • Anatomy of the Venous System

Covers peripheral and central venous anatomy relevant to IV access. Provides structural context for catheter placement decisions throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • IV Additives and Electrolyte Supplements

Covers common electrolyte additives, vitamins, and medications mixed into IV solutions. Prepares students to verify and prepare admixtures safely.

Lesson 2 • Tonicity and Fluid Selection

Explains how tonicity guides fluid choice for specific clinical conditions. Connects fluid physiology from Chapter 1 to practical prescribing decisions.

Lesson 3 • Reading and Verifying IV Orders

Teaches interpretation of IV prescriptions, including rate, concentration, and duration. Reduces medication errors by building systematic order-verification habits.

Lesson 4 • Pharmacokinetics of IV Drug Delivery

Describes absorption, distribution, and elimination specific to the IV route. Establishes pharmacological reasoning used when administering IV medications.

Lesson 1 • IV Catheter Types and Selection

Compares peripheral, midline, and central catheter designs by gauge, length, and material. Guides appropriate device selection based on therapy duration and patient factors.

Lesson 2 • Infusion Delivery Systems

Covers administration sets, extension tubing, filters, and infusion pumps. Ensures students can assemble complete delivery systems before clinical practice.

Lesson 3 • Site Preparation and Skin Antisepsis

Details antiseptic agent selection, application method, and drying time for IV sites. Directly reduces catheter-related infection risk during insertion procedures.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Aseptic Technique

Establishes hand hygiene, sterile field maintenance, and no-touch technique for IV procedures. Forms the infection-prevention foundation applied in every insertion and maintenance task.

Lesson 1 • Catheter Stabilisation and Dressing Application

Covers securement devices, transparent dressings, and documentation of insertion. Proper stabilisation prevents dislodgement and catheter-related complications.

Lesson 2 • Vein Assessment and Site Selection

Teaches palpation, visualization, and tourniquet use to identify optimal insertion sites. Accurate site selection directly improves first-attempt success rates.

Lesson 3 • Difficult Venous Access Strategies

Addresses techniques for paediatric, elderly, obese, and dehydrated patients with challenging veins. Expands clinical adaptability beyond standard insertion scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Standard Peripheral Insertion Procedure

Provides step-by-step insertion technique including angle, bevel orientation, and catheter advancement. Builds the core procedural skill central to this chapter.

Lesson 1 • Manual Drip Rate Calculations

Teaches drop factor, volume, and time relationships for gravity infusion calculations. Provides the mathematical foundation for all rate-setting tasks in this chapter.

Lesson 2 • Weight-Based and Concentration Calculations

Covers mg/kg dosing, mcg/kg/min calculations, and concentration-based rate formulas. Prepares students for high-alert medication infusions requiring precise dosing.

Lesson 3 • Monitoring Infusion Progress

Defines scheduled assessment intervals, volume reconciliation, and patient response monitoring during infusion. Ensures timely detection of delivery errors or patient deterioration.

Lesson 4 • Infusion Pump Types and Operation

Compares volumetric, syringe, and patient-controlled analgesia pumps by function and clinical use. Builds operational competency before programming exercises.

Lesson 1 • CVAD Maintenance and Dressing Changes

Details dressing change frequency, flushing protocols, and cap changes for CVADs. Maintains catheter patency and reduces central line-associated bloodstream infection risk.

Lesson 2 • Confirming and Documenting CVAD Placement

Explains tip confirmation methods, acceptable tip positions, and documentation requirements post-insertion. Prevents use of malpositioned catheters before therapy begins.

Lesson 3 • Indications and Patient Selection for CVADs

Defines clinical criteria for CVAD use including therapy type, duration, and vascular access history. Ensures appropriate device selection before any central line placement.

Lesson 4 • Types of Central Venous Access Devices

Differentiates CVCs, PICCs, ports, and tunneled catheters by design and clinical application. Provides the classification basis for all CVAD management content that follows.

Lesson 1 • Incident Reporting and Root Cause Analysis

Teaches documentation of adverse events, near-misses, and systematic root cause analysis. Builds a safety culture that drives continuous improvement in IV practice.

Lesson 2 • Systemic Complications and Emergency Response

Addresses air embolism, septicaemia, fluid overload, and anaphylaxis as systemic IV complications. Prepares students for rapid recognition and emergency intervention.

Lesson 3 • Catheter-Related Infection Prevention

Details evidence-based bundles for preventing central and peripheral catheter infections. Translates infection control principles into daily clinical practice habits.

Lesson 4 • Catheter Occlusion and Malfunction

Explains thrombotic and non-thrombotic occlusion causes, assessment, and clearance techniques. Maintains catheter function and prevents unnecessary device removal.

Lesson 1 • IV Therapy in Paediatric Patients

Addresses weight-based fluid dosing, vein fragility, and developmental considerations in children. Adapts core insertion and calculation skills to the paediatric clinical context.

Lesson 2 • Oncology and Chemotherapy Infusion

Covers vesicant chemotherapy administration, extravasation prevention, and port access technique. Addresses the highest-risk IV therapy scenario requiring strict protocol adherence.

Lesson 3 • Home and Ambulatory Infusion Therapy

Prepares students to educate patients and caregivers for safe self-managed IV therapy at home. Extends clinical competency into outpatient and community care settings.

Lesson 4 • Critical Care Infusion Therapy

Focuses on vasoactive drug infusions, haemodynamic monitoring integration, and rapid fluid resuscitation in ICU settings. Applies advanced calculation and pump skills to high-acuity scenarios.