Name: Marie Ashley E.

Casia Level: BSN – 1 Date: April 29th 2021

Priming IVF

Definition:

Priming refers to placing IV fluid in IV tubing to remove all air prior to attaching the IV tube to the
patient. IV tubing is primed to prevent air from entering the circulatory system. An air embolism is a
potential complication of IV therapy and can enter a patient’s blood system through cut tubing, unprimed
IV tubing, access ports, and drip chambers with too little fluid

Purpose:

- To remove air from IV tubing.

Equipment/ Material:

- Client’s MAR or computer printout

- Rectal suppository or medication
- Drape
- Clean Gloves
- Water-based Lubricant (i.e. KY jelly) for a suppository
- Wipes or Tissue

Procedure Rationale P.E

1. Perform hand hygiene This step prevents the transmission of
microorganisms.

2. Check order to verify solution, rate, and This ensures IV solution is correct and helps
frequency. prevent medication error.

3. Gather supplies. You will need IV solution, primary IV tubing,

the labels for tubing and the bag, alcohol
swab, and basin or sink.

4. Remove IV solution from outer packaging
and gently squeeze. Check expiry date.
Assess for precipitates or cloudiness. Hang
IV bag on hook or IV pole in a way that will
allow gravity to help you to prime the line.
5. Remove primary IV tubing from outer
packaging. Remover paper.
You need to verify integrity of the solution.
Note the expiry date on IV bags are reported
by month and year. The product is valid for
the entire month.
To prepare for spiking

6. Remove primary IV tubing from outer To prepare for spiking

packaging. Remover paper.

7. Remove the protective cover on the IV Do not contaminate the spike.

solution port and keep sterile. Remove the
protective cover on the IV tubing spike.
Follow principles of asepsis.
8. Remove the protective cover from the IV To ensure it’s snugly spiked into the port
solution port. Without contaminating the
solution port or spike, carefully insert the IV
tubing spike into the port, gently pushing
and twisting.

9. Fill the drip chamber one-third to one-
half full by gently squeezing the chamber.
Only if absolutely necessary, remove
protective cover on the distal end of the
tubing and keep sterile.
Filling the drip chamber prevents air from
entering the IV tubing.
Not removing the protective cover on the
distal end of the tubing helps to maintain
asepsis.

10. With distal end of tubing over a basin / Inverting and tapping the back check valve
 sink / garbage, slowly open roller clamp to and access ports helps displace and remove
prime the IV tubing. air when priming the IV tubing.
Invert back check valve and ports as the
fluid passes through the tubing.

Tap gently to remove air and to fill with

fluid.

11. Once IV tubing is primed, check the This step confirms that air is out of the IV
entire length of tubing to ensure no air tubing.
bubbles are present.
12. Close roller clamp. If removed earlier, Keep the distal end sterile prior to
cover distal end with sterile dead-ender or connecting IV to patient.
sterile protective cover. Hang tubing on IV
pole to prevent from touching the ground.

13. Label tubing and IV bag with date, time, Label IV solution bag as per agency policy.
and initials. Do not write directly on the IV bag.

14. Perform hand hygiene. This reduces the transmission of

microorganisms.

Bibliography:

Berman, A., Snyder, S., Frandsen, G. (2018). Kozier and Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice (10th ed.)
Pearson

Thompson Rivers University. n.d. Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care. Pressbooks.
https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/clinicalproceduresforsaferpatientcaretrubscn/chapter/8-7-priming-iv-tubing-
changing-iv-bags-changing-iv-tubing/

Prepared by: Dr. Ivy Villaceran