What should a nurse do when preparing an intravenous piggyback (IVPB) medication for a client with an established IV infusion?

Using a sterile technique when preparing an intravenous piggyback (IVPB) medication for a client with an established IV infusion is essential to prevent contamination and reduce the risk of infection. Sterile technique ensures that all equipment and medications are free from pathogenic microorganisms, which is critical when introducing a new medication into the bloodstream.

Flushing the IV line, while common in certain protocols, is not universally required for all IVPB medications and is not specifically mandated in this situation. Assessing the IV site should always be done with clean or sterile gloves, as wearing dirty gloves can introduce bacteria to a potentially compromised area, which could lead to infection. Additionally, IVPB medications should always be hung higher than the primary IV bag to allow gravity to facilitate the proper flow of the medication into the bloodstream.