ABCs of IVs Index

Critical Thinking:

Part 3

Critical Thinking/Application Questions: Print off an answer sheet and record your answers for each of the Parts. When you have completed a Part go to the Answer Page and check your results and review the explanations given.

Part 3: Question 3

The nurse is preparing to administer medication via IV Piggyback. You enter the room to see the following set up. What is wrong with this picture?

A. The pump is set to the wrong rate

B. The primary and IVPB bags are at the wrong heights

C. There is air in the line

D. The IVPB line is connected below the pump

Part 3: Question 4

The nurse has finished administering IV Ketorolac through a patient's saline lock. It is important for the nurse to then immediately:

A. Turn the pump back on

B. Re-establish the lock

Part 3: Question 6

The nurse needs to infuse a medication that can sometimes cause stinging when it is injected. What is the best action for the nurse?

A. Dilute the medication (if it is safe for this medication)

B. Call the Pharmacist for a different medication with similar properties to be given

C. Infuse the medication at the port closest to the insertion site

D. Pre-medicate the patient for pain

Part 3: Question 5

As you are completing your focused assessment, you note that there is blood in the tubing of the IV near the insertion site. You should (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY):

A. Assess for infiltration

B. Discontinue the IV

C. Flush at the closet port with 2-3cc normal saline to determine patency

D. Call the physician

C. Massage the IV site

D. Assess the patient's pain level

Part 3: Question 1

The nurse has drawn up two syringes of medications for the patients that occupy Bed 1 and Bed 2. She gets a telephone call and returns back to the medication administration for her patients and realizes that she can't remember which syringe is for which patient. Which of the following would be her best course of action?

A. Make an educated guess as to which syringe is which

B. Dispose of both and call the Pharmacy for new doses

C. Chart that a medication error was made and skip the dose

D. Apply a label to the medications and administer them

Part 3: Question 8

A patient with nausea has an order for 25mg of IV Dramamine to be injected into their current IV fluids. After injecting the medication, it is important for the nurse to: (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

A. Chart that medication was given

B. Label the bag with the med, RN initials, dose, date, time and expiration

C. Increase the rate of the primary IV fluids to get all of the medication in

D. Re-evaluate medication effectiveness in 10 minutes

Part 3: Question 7

You need to administer a medication by IV push over a period of 5 minutes. What is the best way to do this?

A. Push the medication and then stay with the patient for 5 minutes

B. Give the dose in small increments over a period of 5 minutes (i.e. give 0.2 cc doses every minute for a 1cc total dose)

C. Instruct the patient to push the plunger a small amount every 10 seconds

D. Call to have the medication injected into an IVPB solution for easier administration

Part 3: Question 9

The nurse is verifying that the IVPB that they have started is actually running. What is wrong with the item pictured?

A. There are air bubbles in the line

B. The spike for the line is not fully into the bag

C. The drip chamber is full of fluid

D. The incorrect type of tubing has been attached

Part 3: Question 10

You are caring for a child that recently returned from surgery and is crying and groggy. The parent asks why the arm with the IV is wrapped in bandages and has a restraint on it. Your response should be:

A. This will help prevent the child from pulling of their dressing

B. A skin tear occurred on their arm during the surgery

C. Their IV is infiltrated so this acts as a pressure dressing

D. This helps prevent them from pulling out their IV