Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40931896›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

Nurses' Self-Reported Practices and Prescribers' Expectations in Intravenous Fluid Therapy for Hospitalised Patients: A Survey Study and Clinical Documentation Review.

Denise Spoon, Erwin Ista, Myrthe van der Zanden, Monique van Dijk, Elke Berger, Corstiaan den Uil, Jelmer Alsma

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Denise SpoonDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Nursing Science, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9411-948X
Erwin IstaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Nursing Science, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Myrthe van der ZandenDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Nursing Science, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Monique van DijkDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Nursing Science, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Elke BergerFranciscus Academy, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Corstiaan den UilDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Jelmer AlsmaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2808-1514

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTo assess self-reported practices and knowledge of nurses and prescribers (i.e., physicians and nurse practitioners) on intravenous fluid therapy, and to evaluate how this is documented through a clinical documentation review.

designMulticentre cross-sectional study, between April 2022 and July 2022, across 13 wards from four Dutch hospitals.

methodsA survey study was conducted to assess self-reported practices related to intravenous fluid therapy. A 12-item questionnaire evaluated knowledge. To gain insights into documentation practices, a retrospective chart review was performed. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, with group differences analysed using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate.

resultsThree hundred and four healthcare professionals completed the questionnaire (92% nurses). The majority of prescribers (n = 20/25; 80%) expected that nurses would start, stop or change intravenous fluid therapy. Overall, the median number of correct answers to knowledge questions was eight (IQR 7-9, range 0-12); four participants (1%) answered all knowledge questions correctly. Knowledge about the composition of sodium chloride 0.9% solution was limited. Analysis of patient charts revealed that 54% (196/362) received intravenous fluids, most commonly 0.9% sodium chloride infusion (168/195; 86%), although the indication was described in 3% (6/196). Thirty-one percent (61/196) of patients received intravenous fluids to keep the vein open (< 30 mL/h).

conclusionThe study identified shared responsibility, a knowledge gap, and limited documentation concerning intravenous fluids. Prescribers expect nurses to adjust intravenous fluids without consulting a prescriber, which aligns with what nurses do, although they are not legally authorised. Given the limited documentation of the indication for intravenous fluids, it is plausible that several patients received intravenous fluids unnecessarily. IMPLICATIONS: The perceived shared responsibility presents an opportunity to develop a protocol engaging both prescribers and nurses, aiming to guide more targeted infusion therapy. IMPACT: Reducing unnecessary infusions to keep-the-vein-open can help eliminate low-value care. REPORTING

methodCROSS guideline. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Indexed as

Fluid TherapyNursing Staff, HospitalPractice Patterns, Nurses'AdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesDocumentationFemaleHumansInfusions, IntravenousMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsRetrospective StudiesSelf ReportSurveys and Questionnaireshospitalintravenous fluid therapylow value carenurses/nursing care

Identifiers

PMID40931896
PMCPMC13176734

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.