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Administering parenteral nutrition

Parenteral nutrition must be infused carefully. Here are some expert tips to help you manage total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy more efficiently:

Don't play catch-up with flow rates. Speeding up and slowing down a TPN infusion alters a patient's blood glucose level.
Don't allow the TPN solution to hang for more than 24 hours.
Change the TPN tubing and filter every 24 hours.
If the TPN container is damaged and you can't find an immediate replacement, administer dextrose 10% at the same rate as the TPN so the patient doesn't experience an extreme hypoglycemic reaction. Monitor him because the blood glucose level may still change significantly.
Don't use a lumen dedicated to TPN for other functions, such as blood product infusions, bolus injections, simultaneous I.V. solutions, blood draws for laboratory analysis, or measurement of central venous pressure. If a multiple-lumen catheter is being used, label one lumen as "TPN only."

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