Preparing and hanging an infusion — with infusion change and monitoring

Preparing an infusion aseptically, connecting it free of air, setting the drip rate and monitoring the person while it runs — including changing bottles and administration sets.

Content created with AI assistance from public clinical sources (RKI, AWMF) – may contain mistakes; if in doubt, your textbook is right

Translated from the German original, which is authoritative. The exam itself is in German.

Material

• Medical order (solution, volume, additives, infusion time or rate)
• Infusion solution, administration set (gravity set or pump set matching the infusion pump), venting if needed for rigid containers
• For additives: syringes, needles or transfer devices, label
• Alcohol-based disinfectant, swabs, disposable gloves, sterile closure caps
• Disinfected work surface, infusion stand, infusion pump if needed, sharps container

Typical mistakes in the exam

• Not checking the solution for cloudiness, particles or expiry
• Adding additives without labelling the bottle
• Leaving air in the set or filling the drip chamber completely
• Not disinfecting the connector before connecting
• Hanging the infusion without having looked at the access
• Estimating the rate instead of counting, or not double-checking the pump entry
• Putting a used closure cap back on

What examiners ask afterwards

• How do you calculate the drip rate for 1000 ml in 8 hours?
• How do you recognise extravasation, and what do you do?
• How do you recognise fluid overload, and in whom do you expect it?
• How often do you change the administration set, and what does it depend on?
• What is the difference between responsibility for the order (Anordnungsverantwortung) and responsibility for carrying it out (Durchführungsverantwortung) for an infusion?

Sources

• KRINKO: Prävention von Infektionen, die von Gefäßkathetern ausgehen (RKI)
• KRINKO: Händehygiene in Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens (RKI)
• Fachinformationen der Infusionslösungen und Gebrauchsanweisungen der Infusionssysteme und -pumpen