Question

The nurse is attending to an older patient who cannot tolerate oral medication. the patient is prescribed subcutaneous therapy for infusion of isotonic solutions. what action does the nurse take during hypodermoclysis?

Answer 1

The nurse should first select an area to perform the hyphodermoclysis, outside of the elbow is usual but the back of the hand is fine too. Then the nurse must apply a tourniquet 10 cm before the selected area, so it blocks blood circulation. After feeling the vein stand out in the selected area, said area must be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Then the nurse should introduce the needle connected to the catheter in the outstanding vein, following along the anatomy of the patient against the normal bloodstream direction, so the needle stays almost parallel to the vein while inserted. Finally the nurse must fix the needle to the arm using medical adhesive, and remove the tourniquet.