by Dr Michael A Prytula ND

IV Basic Course Objectives:

-To educate and prepare Doctors and Medical staff for proper, effective and safe administration of IV Therapies.

-To develop confidence in doing IV therapies.

-To practice IV access, IV and IM administration.

-To become knowledgeable of all the information on the IV Basic Summary Chart.

Format:

The course is taught with the intention of maximizing learning by first using Lecture Format with audio visual aids and then Behavior Modeling, Case Studies with discussions, Role Playing and Action Learning. In every course we emphasize hands on learning and try to maximize the attendees time with the therapies. We provide quick reference charts to make Doctors more efficient and effective in their IV suite. I don’t just want knowledgeable Doctors; I want effective, efficient, safe, and successful Doctors.

Lecture:

including the use of overhead and projector with PowerPoint presentations.

Learning Aids:

The IV Basic Summary Chart (proving reminders and quick referenced information used repeatedly).

Action Learning:

 Prep and administer IM injection’s. Prep and administer an IV solution.

Practice and obtain 5 angiocath insertions and 5 butterfly insertions

Discussion and questions

Exam

NaturoMedic.org’s courses are all designed to give maximum amount of information in a most effective way and to get the practitioner safely using the information with hands on experience as soon as possible.

Textbooks:

Comprehensive class notes

The Program:

In Principles and Basics of Intravenous Therapies, all attendees are given access, in groups of no more than 5 people, to needles of all sizes and various types, syringes of all sizes, ampules, and IV bags (sterile water, normal saline, etc.). With hands on learning every attendee must do an IM, IV and possibly a subcutaneous or intradermal injection as well. Attendees must also open ampules and extract the ingredient. Practice IVs are a basic IV 250 ml bag with eight ingredients where every attendee assembles, compounds, administers and then regulates IV flow. Blood draws are demonstrated but not performed between attendees (only so many good veins to go around). McGuffs osmolarity and EDTA calculation software is demonstrated for use in calculating osmolarity. The Alberta Osmolarity Rule is also taught as a short cut for osmolarity calculations. We recommend that NDs get an acquired mastery of IV Therapeutics over time, by first getting comfortable with IVs by doing a basic formula. Only then will they expand their horizons with other formulas (we provide two basic IV formulas). This is a 2 day course and a laminated quick reference chart is provided that summarizes Vitamins and Minerals: Indications, Dosages, Toxicities and Interactions, and Contraindications. The chart also makes available Osmolarity calculation formulas, drip rate calculations, Port and PICC line flush access, and what must be documented in patient files.

Day 1

8:00-9:30 Review: Naturopathic Oath and How People Learn, Introductions and Seminar Purpose

9:30-9:45 Clinical Rational for IV Therapy

9:45-10:00 Basic Science Related to IV Therapy, Fluid transport, Fluid Balance assessment

10:00-10:30 Patient assessment for IV Therapy (health history, blood work, urinalysis), Strategies for prevention of infection, Protect your patient, Protect yourself.

10:30-10:45 Equipment necessary to perform parenteral therapy, Infusion delivery systems, peripheral infusion devices, Administration sets, Preparation of solutions, Selecting insertion site. Venous Distention.

10:45-11:00 Practicum: each student examines each others veins with and without BP cuff being inflated.

11:00-11:30 Methods of performing venipuncture.

11:30-12:00 Rate calculation, correcting IV flow rate deviations, Promoting comfort during treatments, discontinuation of IV, therapy treatment record. Local complications. Injections.

12:00-1:00 Practice IM injections

1:00-2:00 Lunch

2:00-3:00 Parenteral Fluids (osmolarity calculations and tips), Quality Assurance of Injectables.

3:00-4:30 Practice accessing veins using a butterfly needle, administration set and a 100ml bag of normal saline.

4:30-5:00 Discussion and questions

Day 2

8:00-9:15 Questions from previous day

9:15-11:00 IV Vitamins and Minerals

11:00-11:30 IV protocols for beginners

11:30-12:00 Laboratory Reference, Suppliers.

12:30-1:00 Practicum: make up own IV Bag

1:00-2:00 Lunch

2:00-4:00 Administer IVs

4:00-5:00 Discussion and Questions. Course evaluation

Exam

Performing IM and IVs . 50 question test.