Total Parenteral Nutrition — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
IV nutrition via central line
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Pharmacological Therapies
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Total Parenteral Nutrition on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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- TPN = central line, high dextrose
- PPN = peripheral, ≤10% dextrose
- For gut rest, NPO >7 days
- Check blood glucose q4-6h
- Sterile dressing, daily weights
- Change tubing/bag q24h
- Never stop abruptly → hypoglycemia
- No add meds to TPN line
- If late → run D10 not catch-up
- Fever, chills → catheter sepsis
- Glucose >200 → cover w/ insulin
- Air embolism: clamp, left side down
✨Quick Tip
TPN is hypertonic and high in dextrose, so it must run through a central line, not a peripheral IV.
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