Capping for Intermittent Use and Flushing a Peripheral Venous Access Device

Goal: The patient remains free of injury and any signs and symptoms of IV complications.

1. Determine the need for conversion to an intermittent access. Verify medical order. Check facility policy. Gather all equipment and bring to bedside.

2. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.

3. Identify the patient.

4. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room, if possible. Explain what you are going to do and why you are going to do it to the patient. Ask the patient about allergies to tape and skin antiseptics.

5. Assess the IV site. Refer to Skill 15-3.

6. If using an electronic infusion device, stop the device. Close the roller clamp on the administration set. If using gravity infusion, close the roller clamp on the administration set.

7. Put on gloves. Close the clamp on the short extension tubing connected to the IV catheter in the patient’s arm.

8. Remove the administration set tubing from the extension set. Cleanse the end cap with an antimicrobial swab.

9. Insert the saline flush syringe into the cap on the extension tubing. Pull back on the syringe to aspirate the catheter for positive blood return. If positive, instill the solution over 1 minute or flush the line according to facility policy. Remove syringe and reclamp the extension tubing.

10. If necessary, loop the extension tubing near the entry site and anchor it with tape (nonallergenic) close to site.

11. Remove equipment. Ensure patient’s comfort. Remove gloves. Lower bed, if not in lowest position.

12. Remove additional PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.