title: What Is Your KVO? Historical Perspectives, Review of Evidence, and a Survey About an Often Overlooked Nursing Practice.
abstract: Like many nursing "sacred cows," the practice of keeping a vein open with a small infusion of intravenous solution does not have clear origins or robust evidence. A survey of Canadian nurses was conducted to determine current practices. More than 50% of respondents reported regularly using a keep-vein-open (KVO) rate between doses of intermittent medication. Frequently, the rate was not specified by the prescriber; in this case, nurses preferred 21 to 30 mL/h. Given the absence of evidence and the frequent use, it is important to ensure that KVO is used properly in the context of a medical prescription or an organizational protocol.
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada (Mss Paquet and Marchionni), and Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada (Mss Paquet and Marchionni). France Paquet, RN, BSc, MSc(N), VA-BC™, is a clinical practice consultant in the Organizational Project Management Office at the McGill University Health Centre. She is president of the Greater Montréal chapter of the Canadian Vascular Access Association (CVAA). She is also a faculty lecturer at the Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University. Caroline Marchionni, RN, MSc Admin, MSc A, is a knowledge broker in the Organizational Project Management Office and a nurse clinician in radiation oncology at the McGill University Health Centre. She is also a faculty lecturer at the Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University.
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchionni
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062666:Vascular Access Devices; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin