PCP AIV Ondansetron Administration

When it comes to treating our palliative patients, a gentle and non-invasive approach is the best one to take, and this can be said across their entire treatment plans. For these reasons, and others, the AIV PCP’s can not administer ondansetron IV.

In line with this philosophy, the directives have been carefully formulated to align with the patients' goals of care, and to prioritize the least invasive and distressing routes for medication administration. Therefore, the preferred routes for medication administration in palliative care are oral (PO) or subcutaneous routes.

While many PCP AIVs are proficient in both the intravenous (IV) administration of medications, and have received training and certification in palliative care directives and parenteral administration of ondansetron, the directive does not include the IV route.

However, if you encounter a patient in palliative care who would benefit from IV administration of medication that is otherwise within your scope, we strongly encourage you to contact the base hospital physician. They will be readily available to discuss the treatment plan with you, and provide a verbal order based on the individual patient's condition and needs.