Word parts
What it means
The short form of intravenous. It names the route (a drug given IV goes straight into the bloodstream and works quickly) and also the line itself ("the client's IV"). A peripheral IV is a short catheter in a vein of the hand or arm; a central line ends in a large vein near the heart.
For the nurse
Check the site often for redness, swelling, coolness, pain or leaking, which can mean infiltration or phlebitis, and stop the infusion if present. A drug given IV works fast, so errors also act fast: check the rate and the pump every time.
In a chart
"20-gauge IV in right forearm, site clean and dry, infusing NS at 75 mL/hr."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | IVP (IV push); IVPB (IV piggyback) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | intravenoso |
| Also written | intravenous, intravenously |
Related terms
intramuscular
Into a muscle; used for a drug given by injection into muscle tissue.
catheter
A thin, flexible tube put into the body to drain fluid out or to put fluid or drugs in.
infusion
The slow delivery of a fluid or drug into the body, usually into a vein, over a period of time.
bolus
A single amount of a drug or fluid given all at once or over a short time.