How do you prepare an IV fluid set?

Answer 1

The parts of an IV administration set includes the bag (in the past it was a glass bottle), the port, the tubing, and the end port to attach the needle. The tubing has a drip chamber, one or two additional ports for a piggy-back IV or for IV med administration, and a shut off valve.

Answer 2

It's been a while since I hung an IV; let's see how much I remember.

1. First, re-read the physician's order!
2. Collect the items you need - IV, IV tubing set and needle, alcohol or betadine depending on your facilities' policies, extra gauze pads, roll of paper tape or Transderm tape; any piggy-back if ordered.
   
3. Follow your site's medication protocols.
4. Get the IV machine if not kept at bedside
5. Double-check the order!
6. At the bedside, do your patient ID checks before opening anything. Check Allergies!
7. (If patient can be up, see if they need to use the bathroom before beginning your task.)
8. Wash hands
9. Open the IV outer bag; do not remove any tabs yet
10. Open the tubing set, careful to keep both ends sterile; make any connections you need to do
11. Make sure the tubing is clamped "off"
12. Hold the IV bag so you can pull off the tab or seal and insert the tubing end; keep the clamp set to "off" -- keep hold of the other end of the tubing to keep it sterile
13. Hang the bag.
14. Slowly--Open the IV tubing and let solution run to fill the tubing while holding end over a wastebasket - reclamp when fluid gets through the tubing
15. Check for bubbles in tubing; place tubing up so it doesn't fall
    
16. (If using a IV rate machine, thread the tubing; close door; set rate
17. (never hurts to redo patient checks before going further)
18. Prepare IV insertion - locate vein; wipe area; insert needle into vein; wait for blood; tape down the site; be prepared to insert IV tubing
19. Once all is attached, slowly open tubing clamp and count the drops per minute (or recheck drop setting on machine and make sure it is on); make sure the site is not inflitrated
20. Once you are sure the IV is running properly, check your taping on the site; put the date on the tape if your facility requires that; gather up the trash.
21. Make sure to teach... example, hand/arm positioning; how to deal with the tubing when moving in bed; etc.

* If anything here differs from the instructions you were given or your facility's policies, follow the instructions/policies you were given.