Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solution by continuous IV infusion at 60 mL/hr. The nurse discovers the infusion pump has stopped working. Which of the following actions should the nurse take while waiting for a new infusion pump?

A) Administer the TPN solution via gravity drip
B) Increase the rate of the TPN infusion manually
C) Switch to an oral nutrition supplement temporarily
D) Discontinue the TPN infusion until the new pump arrives

Answer 1

The nurse should administer the TPN solution via gravity drip while waiting for a new infusion pump to maintain the proper administration rate and prevent any complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a situation where a nurse discovers that the infusion pump used for administering total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has stopped working, the correct action while waiting for a new infusion pump would be to administer the TPN solution via a gravity drip. This is because TPN solutions are specialized and often hypertonic, which requires strict regulation of their administration rate to prevent complications like hyperglycemia or fluid overload. Therefore, the nurse should not increase the rate of TPN infusion manually, switch to oral nutrition supplements, or discontinue the infusion entirely unless specifically indicated by the patient's care protocol.