Before changing a peripheral IV dressing or discontinuing a peripheral IV, the nursing assistant must first confirm that state rules and the center's policies allow it, that the task is in the job description, and that the assistant has the education, training, and knowledge of the supplies and equipment. The assistant must review the center's procedure manual and the procedure with the nurse, ensure a nurse is available to supervise and answer questions, and confirm that an RN has identified and labeled all other tubes, catheters, and needles. After these conditions are met, the assistant must get specific orders from the nurse and care plan, such as when to change the dressing or discontinue the IV, which IV to discontinue if there is more than one, what supplies to use, and what observations to report.

The delegation guidelines in the text list conditions that must be met before a nursing assistant changes a peripheral IV dressing or discontinues a peripheral IV. These conditions are: the assistant's state permits nursing assistants to perform the procedure; the procedure is included in the assistant's job description; the assistant has the necessary education and training; the assistant knows how to use the center's supplies and equipment; the assistant reviews the procedure in the center's procedure manual; the assistant reviews the procedure with the nurse; a nurse is available to answer questions and supervise; and an RN has identified and labeled all other tubes, catheters, and needles. If all those conditions are met, the assistant must also obtain certain information from the nurse and the care plan: when to change the IV dressing, whether the person has an IV needle or catheter, when to discontinue the IV, which IV to discontinue if the person has more than one IV, what supplies to use, what observations to report and record, when to report observations, and what specific resident concerns to report at once.

Key points

Confirm state law allows nursing assistants to change peripheral IV dressings or discontinue peripheral IVs.
Make sure the procedure is in the nursing assistant's job description.
Have the required education, training, and knowledge of the center's supplies and equipment.
Review the center's procedure manual and review the procedure with the nurse.
Ensure a nurse is available to supervise and answer questions, and that an RN has labeled all other tubes, catheters, and needles.
Obtain from the nurse and care plan: timing for dressing change or discontinuation, which IV to discontinue if multiple, supplies to use, and what observations to report.

What are the delegation guidelines for a nursing assistant before changing a peripheral IV dressing or discontinuing a peripheral IV?