What should the nurse report to the primary care provider while caring for a patient on intravenous therapy?

In evaluating the significance of extravasation during intravenous therapy, it is vital to understand that this condition involves the leakage of intravenous fluids or medications into the surrounding tissue, which can cause severe tissue damage. The primary care provider must be informed of this situation promptly because the consequences of extravasation can range from pain and inflammation to necrosis of the tissue if not addressed quickly.

Reporting extravasation is crucial not only for immediate patient safety but also to facilitate the appropriate medical interventions, which may include the application of antidotes (if applicable), surgical consultation, or other treatment measures to manage and mitigate tissue damage. Rapid communication with the primary care provider ensures that these interventions can be initiated as soon as possible to minimize adverse outcomes for the patient.

In contrast, while infiltration, phlebitis, and infection are also important considerations during intravenous therapy, they typically do not pose the immediate, severe risk to surrounding tissue that extravasation does. Therefore, the urgency of reporting extravasation highlights its critical nature in nursing care during intravenous therapy.