IV therapy at home for family member

Huganurse · Feb 26, 2002

No but I've taught a ton of patients to do the IV tx on their own. Of course I have to start them and change dsg if it is short term. Long term the patients learn that too. If your talking about you doing it I don't see why that would be a problem especially if you're experienced with them already. I'd choose to do my own families IV's at home if needed rather than having other nurses come in to do it and especially if the other option is inpatient. Heck, I'd do my own at home if I needed it just to avoid being admitted. Home is where my heart is. Not to mention the absence of nosocomials! And room mates!

Jenny P · Feb 27, 2002

I've done my hubby's IV steroids many times when he's had relapses of his M.S. He prefers my sticking him rather than someone else; however, the last time he needed them (last fall); his veins were so fragile that we had to have a special home health IV team come out because we (the home health nurse and myself) kept blowing them. I don't feel right about doing any other family members (not that they have had need for them!) unless I KNOW that they will trust me! LOL!!!!

snickers · Feb 27, 2002

My sister-in-law came to live with us a couple of years ago, we looked after her for the last 2 months of her life(she had ovarian ca with mets.)She developed cellulitis,wanted iv antibiotics which we hung for her tid, she had an iv to the end, called it her lifeline.

sj.

4XNURSE · Feb 27, 2002

TracyB,

Worst case sceniero. You have a problem with the thing, say, an infiltration. IV abx are potent. Potential tissue necrosis. If somebody starts asking questions, how is your state board going to look at it?

Mind you this is from a guy who delivered 2 of his 3 children, at home. (see below)

just my $ .02

ken :devil:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 27, 2002

Taught one of my HHA's to administer TPN and IV AB via Hickman Catheter and change Hickman dressings after her son's bone marrow transplant. Used to access my Mother-in-laws Portacath night before blood transfusions for anemia in early 80's as only TWO RN's in hospital trained and they were often off----all done thru my homecare agency as I was IV RN. That's the purpose of home IV therapy is to teach a caregiver or patient to administer TX.

As long as going thru an infusion agency for backup see no problems.

See previous post reply for additional info:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12971&highlight=Home+IV+therapy

TracyB,RN, RN · Feb 27, 2002

4XNurse, LOL at your quote :)

Thanks for the input, everyone. The IV at home thing is just a thought in my head for now, hubby's gram is on po antibiotic now & was just trying to plan ahead a little bit, in case the PO is not as effective as we want it to be. She doesn't want to go back to hospital & we aren't really too keen on sending her, but we shall see what happens.

Thanks again :)