Outline Intravenous Policy

Introduction

Based on Taylor and Jones (2020), approximately 75% of the American population suffers

from chronic dehydration, which can be related to various significant illnesses. Due to that,it

represents a major cause of hospital admission, which represents a financial burden for the

medical community.

Patient/Problem

Water represents one of the humans fundamental needs. Baron, Courbebaisse, Lepicard,

& Friedlander (2015) describes water as an important nutrient which is indispensable for the

metabolic function of the body.

Intervention

This paper will focus on the policy regarding IV hydration in the situation in which

patients presents a high degree of dehydration and are unable to take oral rehydration therapy.

The proposed intervention is represented by the usage of intravenous fluid administration, also

called Intravenous (IV) therapy. According to Dougherty & Lamb (2009), the old dehydrated

patients may receive 20-30 mL/kg of isotonic sodium chloride 0.9% solution within 1 or 2 hours.

Comparison

Outcome

Larsen, Eldridge, Brinkley, Newton, Goff, Hartzog, & Perkin (2010) confirm no

significant or important clinical difference between oral rehydration therapy and intravenous

therapy in patients who have no difficulties ingesting the liquids and no absorption pathologies.
PICOT Question

An intervention in the treatment of a group of old dehydrated patients who are admitted in the

clinical setting and are not able to receive oral hydration therapy.

(P) How does intravenous therapy work to help dehydrated old patients from their conditions?

(I) Compared to the oral rehydration intervention, the former is better.

(C) The intravenous therapy has its own side effects which the nurse needs to be aware of,

despite the fact that it is efficient to treat the condition mentioned

(O) The overall outcome for the proposed intervention is to rehabilitate the patient and to ensure

an adequate hydration status.

(T) Diagnostic Test.

The best method of determining this form of treatment's efficiency is by monitoring the

electrolyte panel of the patients frequently. This is also known as a serum electrolyte test and

consists of measuring the major elements in the blood which can be decreased in the situation of

dehydration: sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, and chloride.

Blood tests

Urinalysis

Complete Blood Count (CBC):

(O) Prognosis/ Prediction.

 Even though policies point out that fewer complications characterize oral administration, its

prognosis tends to be worse in the case of patients who present with symptomatology of

digestive pathology such as gastroenteritis.

Conclusion

As this paper was able to point out, the registered nurse represents a centrepiece in the case

of intravenous therapy, and due to the fact that they are also seen as advocated for the patients

right, they should be directly involved in the development of both procedures and policies which

would increase the quality of the medical care act.