Could you explain to me what a bolus is, in your own words?

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Specializes in LTC.

Hello,

I believe a bolus is a sort of large amount of drug/food being administered intravenously in a short amount of time.

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Hello,

I believe a bolus is a sort of large amount of drug/food being administered intravenously in a short amount of time.

I think that is about right, but it really refers more to the time factor, rather than the amount.

I always think of it as a "ball" of medicine, it could be any size, but its going in all at once.

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Specializes in LTC.

Thanks, that's what I thought.:)

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Here is a good link regarding IVs including the bolus:

http://www.icufaqs.org/PeripheralIVs.doc

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.
Hello,

I believe a bolus is a sort of large amount of drug/food being administered intravenously in a short amount of time.

Could be IV fluid also.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

do you have a medical dictionary? "bolus" is clearly defined in a medical dictionary.

"latin, from greek bolos, a lump. 1. a mass of masticated food ready to be swallowed. 2. a rounded preparation of medicine for oral ingestion. 3. a concentrated mass of a diagnostic substance given rapidly intravenously, such as an opaque contrast medium, or an intravenous medication. 4. in radiology, a tissue-equivalent material placed on the surface of the body to minimize the effects of an irregularly shaped body surface. the dose at the skin surface tends to increase, minimizing the skin-sparing effect of mega-voltage radiation." (page 248, taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary, 18th edition, published in 1997 by f.a. davis company.)

as an rn for the past 32 years i have heard of bolus referred to as definitions #1, #2, and #3 throughout my career exactly as they are defined in this dictionary and i would describe them in my own words in the very same way.

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Specializes in LTC.

Thank you!:thankya:

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

This is a good one. and you will remember it for yrs to come...

a bolus is the larger amt you give, right? just for those "pick-me up times"

SO>>>>

Your out drinking (after clinicals....lets just say) and you are drinking beer... but every once in a while you do a shot...THATS UR BOLUS..

lol..srry, i love that one.

lemme know if it helps, or if i am just blowing smoke up..lol

GL!

-H-

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Hello,

I believe a bolus is a sort of large amount of drug/food being administered intravenously in a short amount of time.

Could be IV fluid also.

Could also be air. As in an air bolus used to check NGT placement.

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Specializes in LTC.
This is a good one. and you will remember it for yrs to come...

a bolus is the larger amt you give, right? just for those "pick-me up times"

SO>>>>

Your out drinking (after clinicals....lets just say) and you are drinking beer... but every once in a while you do a shot...THATS UR BOLUS..

lol..srry, i love that one.

lemme know if it helps, or if i am just blowing smoke up..lol

GL!

-H-

Awesome!:lol2:

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