What it means
A dose given in one go rather than a little at a time. An IV bolus (sometimes called an IV push) puts a drug straight into the vein over seconds to minutes; a fluid bolus runs a set volume of IV fluid in quickly; a tube-feeding bolus gives a feeding all at once with a syringe. The word also names a soft ball of chewed food ready to swallow.
For the nurse
Check the drug guide for how fast a drug can be pushed and what to dilute it with. After a fluid bolus, recheck the blood pressure, heart rate, urine output and lung sounds to see how the client responded and to catch fluid overload.
In a chart
"500 mL normal saline bolus given over 30 minutes for BP 84/50; repeat BP 102/64."
At a glance
| Spanish | bolo |
|---|---|
| Also written | boluses, IV bolus |