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Nursing vocabulary · IV Therapy and Fluids

Infusion pump

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ɪnˈfjuːʒən pʌmp/nounCommon term

In nursing, infusion pump means: A machine that pushes fluid or medicine into a patient's vein at an exact, set rate and sounds an alarm if the line is blocked or the bag is empty.

In Turkish: infüzyon pompası, volümetrik pompa

How it is used

Nurses set up, programme, start, pause and silence infusion pumps, and check the rate (ml per hour) and the volume to be infused. A 'syringe driver' or 'syringe pump' gives small volumes from a syringe. Typical alarms: 'occlusion', 'air in line', 'infusion complete'.

Example sentences

  1. The infusion pump keeps alarming 'occlusion'; I think she's bending her arm.

  2. Set the infusion pump to 125 ml an hour, please.

Common collocations

  • set up an infusion pump
  • programme the infusion pump
  • infusion pump alarm
  • infusion rate
  • IVShort for intravenous: into a vein. As a noun it also means the line or drip that puts fluid or medicine straight into a vein.
  • dripAn everyday word for a bag of fluid or medicine that flows slowly into a patient's vein through a tube, or for the whole set-up.
  • flushTo push a small amount of fluid, usually saline, through a cannula or line to check that it works, keep it open or clear medicine from it.
  • fluid balanceThe difference between all the fluid a patient takes in (drinks, drips, feeds) and all the fluid they lose (urine, vomit, drains) over a set time.

More terms: IV Therapy and Fluids

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.