Program Description
Recent disruptions to the US intravenous (IV) fluid supply, driven by manufacturing interruptions, natural disasters, and supply chain constraints, have forced health systems to adopt alternative administration strategies, such as IV push, to conserve limited resources. While IV push can reduce fluid use and expedite therapy, it introduces significant complexities in preparation, labeling, and patient monitoring that increase the risk of medication errors and compromise operational efficiency. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to lead Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee decisions and guide protocols during periods of operational strain. Despite their central role, many pharmacists have limited experience with implementation and the clinical application of ready-to-use (RTU) and ready-to-administer (RTA) products. This article aims to cover how standardizing practices may strengthen pharmacists' understanding of fluid stewardship principles and IV push protocols within health systems. By providing practical, guideline-aligned strategies, pharmacists will be equipped to evaluate when IV push is clinically appropriate versus when infusion-based methods or RTU and RTA products are safer and more efficient. Key points shared within the article will prepare pharmacists to effectively counsel clinical teams, reduce practice variability, and optimize care with IV fluids during times of constrained resources.
Target audience: Health-system pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: July 31, 2026
Expiration date: July 31, 2027
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Time to complete activity: 2.0 hours
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Describe the burden of drug shortages and operational challenges in health systems
- Use medication safety data and operational considerations to determine when intravenous (IV) push or infusion-based administration is appropriate during IV fluid shortages
- Identify opportunities to enhance medication safety through appropriate use of ready-to-administer (RTA) and ready-to-use (RTU) products
- Apply best practices to support formulary and workflow decisions involving RTA and RTU products during IV fluid shortages to improve efficiency, address staffing constraints, and maintain regulatory compliance
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