INS Issues Guidelines on Frequency of IV Site Checks

In July, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) issued a position paper with guidelines on how frequently healthcare workers should assess peripheral IV sites for complications, including infection, extravasation/infiltration, and phlebitis. The report states that although various sources recommend checking peripheral IV sites on a regular basis, limited evidence-based guidance has been available on just how frequently these checks should occur.

Establishing a frequency for site checks is especially critical for hospitals that have adopted recent INS recommendations to rotate peripheral IV site locations based on clinical indications (e.g., the...