• The parenteral nutrition solution provides the nutrients and calories required to meet your child’s nutritional needs.
• The steps in the method below may serve as a guide; speak to your healthcare team about the specific equipment that your child uses.

Considerations:

• The medical prescription indicates the total volume of parenteral nutrition solution to be administered over a specified number of hours.
• Storage of bags of solution and additives.
• To prevent contamination and transmission of bacteria:
  • limit the number of people present during medication administration to yourself, your child and a helper, if needed,
  • no animals (eg, dog, cat) should be in the same room as you,
  • do not cough or blow on the materials, equipment or on the work surface.
• Good handwashing is essential before and after providing care.
• Optimize your child’s comfort during care with appropriate positioning and the use of distraction.

• Administration of the solution usually begins in the evening and continues through the night until the following morning. You can discuss with your care team the most appropriate period of administration for your child.
• The pump is programmed to adjust the flow rate of the solution, depending on the volume and the number of hours of administration required.
• Each new prescription (eg, change of solution, dosage, etc) may require a new reprogramming of the pump. Check with your healthcare team.
• The tubing of the bag should be changed at the same time as the preparation of the bag or at the frequency recommended by your healthcare care team.