Infusion Nursing Notes by Nufactor provides education, resources and support to promote successful patient therapy within the infusion nursing community.

Who To Call and When: A Guide to Communication With The MD and Pharmacist Part 1

By Michelle Greer, RN, IgCN.

In the support of our patients in the homecare setting, it is imperative as nurses that we know when to notify the physician and pharmacist for patients receiving immune globulin therapy. IG therapy does have side effects, and it is important to recognize them and know what to do. Every patient will react differently to IG therapy. Some patients may experience no side effects at all, while others may have mild to moderate reactions. This goes for both IV and SC therapy. The management of IVIG and SCIG infusion side effects is crucial to the overall tolerability of IG therapy. [More]

Peripheral IV Access: A Lost Art?

By Candy Finley, RN, IgCN & Michelle Greer, RN, IgCN.

Peripheral intravenous access catheters are a commonly used IV device for patients receiving infusion therapy at home. They are primarily used for administration of medications, fluids and/or blood products, and occasionally blood sampling. Long term and daily therapies have created a need for indwelling catheters, and PIV's are becoming less common. As a result, the skills required to properly access a vein with a catheter that can stay in place without complications have become somewhat "rusty." [More]

HYQVIA: Part 2

By Cindi Berry, RN BSN.

HYQVIA: Part 2 will discuss the administration steps and important aspects of HYQVIA therapy.

The administration and teaching of HYQVIA should be done by a well-trained RN. It is recommended that the treating RN has an extensive infusion background, and has been proficiently trained in IVIG and SCIG administration. [More]

HYQVIA: Part 1

By Cindi Berry, RN BSN

Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) diseases are comprised of over 250 chronic disorders that all share the same common, characteristic: a defect in the body's normal immune function. In most cases, once a diagnosis has been confirmed, a patient is started on life-long replacement therapy called Immune Globulin (IG) therapy. Patients generally have an option to receive IG therapy by IV infusions (usually once a month), or by subcutaneous administration (SCIG), which is usually administered on a weekly basis, as independent therapy. Up until late 2014, these were the only two options for PI patients when considering IG therapy. [More]

Pre-visit/Visit Preparation: Vital Tasks for a Successful Infusion

By Michelle Greer, RN, IgCN and Cindi Berry, RN, BSN.

When working in homecare, preparing to see your patient for intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy can be challenging and requires a good deal of preparation. Many times, it is up to you, the registered nurse, to put together some of the information prior to seeing your patient. This information includes doctor visit notes, current orders prescribed by the doctor, specialty pharmacy orders and supplies, and knowing the type of therapy that will be administered in the home. In addition, since there are many different brands and doses of IG, you should be familiar with both of these prior to seeing your patient in the home. [More]

Side Effects of IG Therapy: How to Prevent and Manage Them

By Cindy Berry, RN, BSN.

This week's IGL Blog is sponsored by NuFACTOR Speciality Pharmacy.

Immune Globulin (IG) therapy is used to treat many different diseases. Because the drug itself can have many side effects when administered, it is important for patients to understand what to do when facing side effects from therapy to ensure a treatment is well tolerated. [More]

IVIG and Epilepsy

You may not think of epilepsy as a disease state that can be treated by intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). But, in this week’s blog we will discuss the subset of epilepsy patients whose disease may be caused by autoimmunity. And, it is theorized that these epilepsy patients, whose own antibodies are responsible for their disease, may benefit from IVIG therapy. [More]

Weaning IVIG Therapy for CIDP

Previously we began discussing how to wean patients with CIDP off IVIg therapy. In this week’s blog, we address common fears and questions. As well as when and how to implement a tapering plan. [More]