When a bag of TPN is not available, what should the nurse infuse instead?

In situations where Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is not available, it is critical to provide an alternative solution that can help to temporarily meet the patient's energy needs. Dextrose is a form of carbohydrate that can serve as a source of calories, which is essential for patients who cannot take food orally.

Dextrose 10% in water is particularly appropriate because it provides a higher concentration of carbohydrates compared to dextrose solutions with lower concentrations. This can help to prevent complications such as hypoglycemia, which can arise if a patient is suddenly deprived of nutrients typically provided by TPN. Additionally, dextrose solutions are easy to administer and can help maintain intravascular volume, which is important for overall patient stability.

Supporting this choice, it’s important to note that while Dextrose 5% in saline and sodium chloride solutions may serve certain functions, they do not provide the necessary caloric content that patients require in lieu of TPN. Normal saline primarily provides fluid support without additional caloric value, which would not meet the nutritional needs of a patient requiring parenteral nutrition.

Thus, using dextrose 10% in water offers a better temporary solution by supplying necessary calories while waiting for TPN to become