What is the purpose of using an infusion pump?

Using an infusion pump serves the key purpose of delivering fluids and medications in a controlled manner. This is crucial in various clinical settings where precise dosing is necessary to ensure effectiveness and patient safety. Infusion pumps allow healthcare providers to set and regulate the flow rates for IV fluids and medications, ensuring that patients receive the exact dose prescribed over a specified period.

This level of control is particularly important in situations such as administering chemotherapy, managing pain management, or delivering critical care medications where fluctuations in dosage could lead to adverse effects or therapeutic failure. The use of an infusion pump minimizes the risk of human error associated with manual administration of IV fluids, which might lead to incorrect dosages resulting from variability in infusion rates or timing.

In contrast, other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of infusion pumps. While they may impact drug absorption, the pumps are not designed specifically to increase absorption rates. They do not inherently decrease dosages nor are they intended to prevent medication administration. Instead, their primary role focuses on precise and reliable delivery.