Unsafe syringe practices when administering intravenous (IV) medications can cause patient harm and impact clinician practice. The need to prepare and manipulate IV medications at the patient’s bedside can increase the chance for patient infections, disrupt nursing workflow and efficiency, and increase the chance for medication errors. Complexities involved with the care of patients isolated with COVID-19 add to the risks and impact of unsafe syringe practices and amplifies system inefficiencies. Several professional organizations, including but not limited to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), INS, and the Joint Commission, recommend ready-to-administer (RTA) IV medications aimed to reduce the risks involved with unsafe syringe practices. This session will provide a review of unsafe syringe practices, the impact of practice changes resulting from COVID-19, and how to integrate ready-to-use IV medications into current practice.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this webinar, learners will be able to:

·       Describe unsafe syringe practices, including but not limited to improper use of cartridges, unnecessary dilution, mislabeling, and bedside compounding

·       Explore changes in practice resulting from COVID-19 and how to minimize patient/clinician risk

·       Verbalize the benefits of RTA IV medications and other methods to increase efficiency and how to integrate them into practice

CRNI® RUs: This session has been approved for 2 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: December 1, 2024

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

The Infusion Nurses Society is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #CEP14209. The certificate must be retained by the attendee for a period of 4 years.