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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Dial A Flo


In some instances Dial A Flo will help the nursing staff to be able to assure that the right flow rate is being achieved. What Dial A Flo is, is a dial that allows the nurse to adjust the rate of flow to anything between 5 ml to 250 ml an hour.

Using Dial-A-Flo means that you're going to need a hep lock and a saline syringe in readiness in order to use the equipment. You'll have a preprepped heparin syringe and will be ready to connect your iv tube to the dial a flo mechanism. In order to make the connection, take the dial A flo tube and connect it to the clear cap that you'll find on the end of your iv tube. Take off the clear cap and then attach the dial a flo. The flow on your set should be set to off. Take the bag and take off the tab that is white in color. You'll want to remove the cover of the spike, making sure that at no time do you come in contact with the iv.

Insert the spike into the port of the bag by pushing and twisting slightly. Attach the entire item to the pole. Once you've done so, slightly squeeze the drip area chamber and let go until you reach the line (the fluid line) and once you have switch the Dial a flo into the open position so that your tube can start to fill. When it gets to the end of the fill set it to the off position again. You can now take the clear cap away from the IV tubing. You'll want to touch just the wings of the cannula and connect it with a slight twist.

The use of the Dial A Flo can be more than helpful in regulating the right medication in the right amount, but do be sure that you've done everything correctly and that no contamination of the dial a flow has taken place.

When you reach this point, you'll simply be following the directions of the medication which requires administration. Ensuring that everyone who will come into contact with the Dial A Flo is properly instructed in the use and mechanics of it is imperative in order to ensure the safety of your patient.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

IV Sets-Uses and Specifications

The many advancements in technology have increased the available health care treatments for patients who have health care issues. One such treatment is the innovation of invasive treatments such as intravenous treatment. Among the newest of the treatment technologies, the many forms of iv administration play a vital role in the administration of medications, fluids, parenteral nutrition and blood transfusions. IV sets for administration are also designed in new ways that help us to meet our needs for treatment. New IV sets include gravity tube, pump tubes, flow regulators and volume controlling tubing in order to ensure that any necessary treatment can be made.

Today, the main purpose of the IV set and IV therapy is to add fluid to the veins. The fluid may be used to correct an imbalance in electrolytes, to add medication to the body, to offer blood, or to replace fluid or deliver some variety of medications. In comparison to other methods, the iv set is the fastest and most effective way to offer medication or treatment to anyone.

The IV set of today typically contains these features:

  • Iv sets today are disposable.
  • IV sets are sterile 
  • Iv sets are designed to be used by one patient and one patient only before being disposed of  Nearly every iv set in the health care facility today is equipped with a roller clamp. 
  • IV sets are latex free to ensure that no allergic reactions can take place. 
  • IV sets are DiPhthalate (DEHP) free. 
  • IV sets are inspected multiple times during the production and manufacturing process in order to ensure safety and quality control. 
  • IV sets deliver a consistent liquid flow to ensure that there is no need to monitor the flow frequently. 
  • The typical IV set today is available to meet a wide range of different needs. The required sets are available to any hospital or health care facility in order to enable them to meet the needs of anyone who requires intravenous therapy, from the infant to the elderly person. 
  • The IV set available today can come with spikes which are either vented or non vented.


IV medical supply houses provide equipment to the hospital or healthcare facility which is guaranteed to be sterile and safe for all patients. This allows us the luxury of knowing that our treatment materials are healthy and safe when they are given to us for treatments that we require.


The responsibility for safe and effective use and training for IV sets rests with the hospital personnel but the supply of those sets is with the medical supply companies. Make sure that you select the proper medical supply house to be certain that all of the Hospital medical supplies in your facility are accurate and adequate.