Intravenous Push Medication Safety: Reducing the Risk for Patient Harm

Recorded On: 08/29/2019

Commercial support: Fresenius Kabi

Infusion therapy is commonplace in many clinical settings, as is the administration of intravenous (IV) push medications. It is essential for nurses to have the knowledge to correctly administer IV push medications and manage the associated challenges. This presentation will examine current evidence-based practice, identify potential risks for errors and complications, and make recommendations for safer practices associated with IV push medication administration.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this program, the learner will be able to:
• Discuss challenges associated with intravenous push medications.
• Examine current evidence and practice related to intravenous push medication safety.
• Identify potential risks and complications related to intravenous push medication.
• Describe best practice for safe IV push medication administration.

Candy Cross, MSN-Ed, RN

Adjunct instructor, Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Candy Cross MSN-Ed, RN, has been practicing nursing for over 30 years and has maintained certification in critical care (CCRN) from the AACN for over 20 years. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with her Master’s in Nursing Education and has spent the last 12 years educating nurses. She has been an advocate for safe practice guidelines for intravenous push (IVP) medications for the past four years. In 2019, Candy and a small team of nurses from Arizona received a Cheers Award from the Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) for the work they did in Arizona to promote ISMP’s best practice Guidelines for IVP medication preparation and administration. Candy currently works as an Adjunct Clinical Educator. She also volunteers for Pawsitive Friendships, a non-profit organization that promotes pet therapy for special needs children. In addition, she volunteers for a local hospital’s Paws for Patients program, which promotes pet therapy for hospitalized patients. She is passionate about nursing education and promoting safe practice guidelines related to IVP medication administration. Candy is excited to see the work this National Coalition will do to promote patient safety.

Denise Dion, MSN-Ed, RN, PCCN, CNE

Nurse Educator, Central Arizona College

Denise Dion, MSN-Ed, RN, PCCN, CNE, is a nurse educator at Central Arizona College. She has 27 years of experience as a nurse, with the majority of her career spent in cardiac care. She earned her BSN from University of Massachusetts-Boston and an MSN-Ed from the University of Phoenix. Denise has been working closely with colleagues to bring IV push medication best practice to bedside nurses and nurse faculty throughout Arizona.

CRNI® RUs: This session has been approved for 1 CRNI® recertification unit and meets the non INS Meeting criteria.

Contact Hours: This session has been approved for 1 contact hour

Expiration date for receipt of contact hours: August 29, 2022

To receive contact hours for this educational activity, you are required to attend the entire educational activity and complete the evaluation.

INS is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.