Question

The nurse has finished teaching a client about medications that have been ordered for administration. Which client statement reflects that teaching about a piggyback infusion has been successful?

a) "A piggyback is a type of chemotherapy that will treat my cancer."
b) "You will give me that medication in tandem with my other IV solution."
c) "I could not receive this type of medication if I were under the age of 18."
d) "This is the first medication I will receive."

Answer 1

A piggyback infusion is a method where a secondary IV bag is administered in tandem with the primary IV infusion; it is not age-restricted or limited to chemotherapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client statement that reflects successful teaching about a piggyback infusion would be: "You will give me that medication in tandem with my other IV solution." This indicates that the client has understood that a piggyback infusion is a method of medication delivery where a small, secondary IV bag containing the medication is connected to the primary IV line already in place for a continuous infusion. The secondary bag is usually hung higher than the primary bag to allow the medication to flow into the line through gravity when the pump is set for piggybacking. This technique is not specifically for chemotherapy and can be used for administering various medications, including antibiotics or electrolytes.

There is no age restriction on receiving a piggyback infusion, so the client's understanding excludes the misconception that it could not be given if they were under the age of 18. Also, piggyback infusions are not necessarily the first medication received, nor are they limited to chemotherapy treatments.