Prevention and Management of Intravenous Extravasation

Course overview

Intravenous therapy is one of the most common nursing processes. However, administering medications and/or solutions intravenously is not without significant risk. One of these risks is extravasation, the inadvertent infusion of a vesicant into tissue rather than into the intended venous system. This complication can result in catastrophic injury and is the basis of a large number of malpractice lawsuits. To protect the nurse, the facility, other members of the healthcare team and, most of all, the patient, the nurse must be knowledgeable regarding appropriate I.V. sites, which drugs and solutions are vesicants, and the appropriate actions to take in the event of an extravasation. Extravasations cannot be eliminated in all circumstances, but appropriate care can minimize the risk, as well as the negative effects when it does occur. This instructional course has been designed to provide the relevant information needed to meet this goal and provides 1 contact hour of continuing education.