Abstract
Infusion pumps are commonplace in today’s healthcare settings
and their design and development has kept pace with technology
over the decades. In the 1970s and 1980s infusion pumps began
to emerge in the UK market and were basic, mechanical devices
with limited functions. Today, infusion pumps have a plethora of
functions and features and a range of alarms to help alert the user
and the patient that infusions are nearing completion, have ended
or their range of sensors has detected that the infusion pump, or
patient, requires attention. The role of the nurse in safely managing
this ever-changing technology should not be underestimated. This
paper reviews the progress made over the past 40 years in the UK
healthcare setting and how the nurses have had to keep up to speed
with the technology as it develops. It highlights the importance
of fully integrating infusion pumps into intravenous (IV) therapy
training and assessment. The important role the nurse plays is
highlighted as well as exploring how he or she can help organisations
better understand infusion pumps in the day-to-day management of
patients undergoing intravenous therapy