Intravenous fluid administration is among the most common interventions nurses perform — and arguably one of the most misunderstood. We are efficient and confident when we spike a bag and open the roller clamp. But how often do we stop to ask: Where is this fluid actually going? And just as important: What is it…
Author: Jacki Roland, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN
Jacki Roland, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN
Jacki Roland, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN is Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Educator at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, a Level I trauma center in Aurora, Colorado, and UCHealth Metro Denver Freestanding Emergency Departments.
The concept of the fluid compartment model has existed for more than a century. However, while this model is routinely taught to physicians and advanced practice providers, many nurses remain unfamiliar with the critical concepts. Why? Historically, nursing education has focused on understanding visible clinical findings and immediate interventions. Nursing education has not prioritized an…