Hospital IV Labels – A Small Yet Essential Element to Providing Quality Patient Care
Every item used in a hospital for taking samples, providing medications, and patient care must be labeled appropriately to ensure proper treatment is received. Intravenous therapy is a common way to supply fluids, administer medications, and provide blood to patients. Since the medicines are provided by the staff, it is essential to have the right labeling in place to prevent harm. An IV supplies the medicine from the bag to the injection site. If an identifying tag is not used or is not durable enough, many things can go wrong.
IV labels serve three specific purposes in any emergency or medical environment. First, they lower the risk of supplying the wrong drug or fluid. Second, labeling prevents the wrong line from being disconnected or attached to an existing IV bag. Third, they allow the staff to easily know what sizes and medicines a patient is receiving. It is just as important to use the right hospital IV label as it is to apply them regularly in these types of environments.
What to Look for in an IV Label?
Anyone administering medications must be able to easily identify specific information on a label, whether it be a syringe, prescription bottle, IV bag, or IV line label. If the information is not readable or easy to understand, mistakes are more likely to happen. Medication information and sizing are two important characteristics when labeling any line for intravenous therapy. The following information is critical to any identification tag:
- Medication Name
- Supplied Date
- Dosage Amount
Additional information may be required depending on specific facility procedures and safety preferences. While many lines are used for arm or hand insertion, those inserted into the neck or chest sometimes require larger sizes. For this reason, the sizing and type information is essential to ensure the proper hospital iv line is used for the patient. Labeling is also essential to the identification of piggybacked IV lines. When choosing a type of labeling for this purpose, here are few qualities to look for:
- Durability – Does not easily tear, wear, or fall off the line.
- Smudge-Proof – Written or printed information remains legible.
- Moisture Protection – Spills do not cause the text to bleed or become hard to read.
- Sufficient Text Area – There must be enough room to provide all necessary information without using too small of text or having to omit pertinent details.
- Easy to See and Read – Background colors and other characteristics should not take away from the details of the label.
Protective qualities such as moisture protection aid in maintaining durability when exposed to the rigorous conditions of hospital medical environments. IV’s are also moved around continuously when inserted into the patient. This makes durability even more important as the IV is shuffled around. At Shamrock Labels, we understand how important it is to use the right materials, ink, and features for hospital IV labels. If you are unsure as to what is best for your needs or simply want to explore available options, we would love to hear from you. Give us a call today at 800-323-0249!