Lesson 1Verification processes: two-person checks, MAR comparison, patient ID confirmationThis lesson explains steps to verify before starting or changing an infusion. It stresses two-person checks, matching orders to the MAR, confirming patient identity, and matching pump settings to make sure the right drug, dose, route, and time are used.
Standard two-person check methodMatching pump orders with MARPatient ID check and barcode useMatching pump settings with written ordersHandling differences and close callsLesson 2Programming medications and fluids: dose, rate, concentration, infusion limits, lockoutsThis lesson focuses on safely entering medicines and fluids into infusion pumps. It covers putting in dose, rate, and concentration, setting limits and lockouts, using weight-based dosing, and checking calculations before starting treatment.
Entering dose, rate, and concentration fieldsWeight-based and age-based dosing inputsSetting infusion limits and lockout timesUsing pre-set drug library profilesFinal check before starting infusionLesson 3Human factors and medication safety: look-alike/sound-alike meds, labeling, double-check workflowsThis lesson looks at how human factors cause infusion pump medicine errors. It covers drugs that look or sound alike, safe labeling, independent double-checks, and workflow design to reduce slips, lapses, and bias at the bedside.
Risks of look-alike and sound-alike medicinesSafe labeling and storage near infusion pumpsIndependent double-check and cross-check stepsDesigning workflows to reduce biasHuman error types: slips, lapses, rule mistakesLesson 4Principles of infusion pump function and common types (smart pumps, syringe, volumetric)This lesson introduces basic principles of how infusion pumps work and main types of devices. It compares smart pumps, syringe pumps, and volumetric pumps, showing when to use them, advantages, limitations, and common nursing uses.
Basic mechanics of infusion pump operationSmart pump features and connectionsSyringe pump uses and limitationsVolumetric pump uses and accuracy factorsChoosing the right pump for treatmentLesson 5Common alarms and troubleshooting: occlusion, air-in-line, low battery, infusion complete — causes and immediate actionsThis lesson explains common infusion pump alarms, their causes, and quick nursing actions. It covers occlusion, air-in-line, low battery, and infusion complete alarms, including safe troubleshooting and when to pause or stop treatment.
Recognizing and prioritizing alarm typesOcclusion alarm causes and quick checksManaging air-in-line alarms safelyResponding to low battery and power lossActions after infusion complete alarmsLesson 6Documentation and handoff: entries for MAR, pump settings, incident reporting, communication prompts for next nurseThis lesson covers accurate recording of infusions in the MAR and electronic records, including pump settings, rate changes, and responses. It addresses structured handoff communication, incident reporting, and prompts for the next nurse's continuity.
Recording pump settings and changes in MARDocumenting patient response and site statusUsing standard handoff tools for infusionsWhen and how to file safety incident reportsCommunicating pending titrations and labsLesson 7When to escalate: signs requiring physician notification vs. biomedical engineeringThis lesson clarifies when nurses should report infusion concerns. It differentiates issues needing doctor notification from those for biomedical engineering, and outlines information to give during reporting for quick response.
Clinical changes needing doctor contactDevice failures needing biomedical supportInformation to gather before escalationUsing chain of command for urgent issuesDocumenting escalation and follow-up plansLesson 8Monitoring during infusion: site checks, vital sign correlations, fluid balance documentationThis lesson describes ongoing monitoring during an infusion. It emphasizes site assessments, vital sign trends, fluid balance recording, and early spotting of infiltration, extravasation, and instability.
Scheduled IV site and line patency checksLinking vital signs to infusion effectsTracking intake, output, and fluid balanceRecognizing infiltration and extravasationAdjusting monitoring for high-risk drugsLesson 9Safety features and error prevention: dose-error reduction software, guardrails, infusion protocolsThis lesson reviews infusion pump safety tools and how to use them well. It explains dose-error reduction software, guardrail limits, drug libraries, and standard infusion protocols to prevent programming errors and overdoses.
Dose-error reduction software principlesUsing and updating drug librariesGuardrail soft and hard limit settingsStandard infusion and titration protocolsResponding to guardrail alerts safelyLesson 10Pre-use checks: device integrity, battery, IV sets, tubing connections, alarm settings, calibrationThis lesson outlines key pre-use checks before connecting a patient. It includes checking device condition, battery status, correct IV sets, tubing connections, alarm settings, and calibration needs.
Visual inspection of pump housing and screenBattery status and power cord verificationChoosing compatible IV sets and cassettesSecuring tubing and line connectionsConfirming alarm volume and default limits
