What is the purpose of an infusion pump alarm and how should you respond to an occlusion alarm?

• A. To alert about occlusion or flow issues; respond by inspecting tubing for kinks, checking the catheter, ensuring the line is patent, and replacing if needed.
• B. To indicate battery low; ignore and continue.
• C. To suggest replacing bag every hour; replace immediately without checks.
• D. To indicate infusion complete; remove device.

Answer: (C)

Infusion pump alarms warn you about problems that block or slow the flow of IV fluid. An occlusion alarm means there’s resistance or a blockage in the line preventing fluid from moving at the set rate. Respond by pausing or stopping the pump and inspecting the entire infusion path: look for kinks or twists in the tubing, check the catheter insertion site for signs of obstruction or swelling, ensure the line is patent and not clamped, and verify the bag isn’t empty and the connections are secure. If you can’t find or fix the cause quickly, replace the tubing and/or the bag as needed and notify the clinician if the alarm persists.