Before administering a bag of intravenous (IV) fluid, a nurse should confirm the type and amount of solution in the medical record and then do which of the following?
Mark the time strip on the IV bag with a felt-tip pen.
Ensure the integrity of the bag.
Select a vented solution administration set.
Calculate the tonicity of the solution.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Marking the time strip on the IV bag helps track infusion duration but is not the priority before administration. Ensuring bag integrity prevents contamination or leakage, which could introduce pathogens or cause fluid loss, compromising patient safety and treatment efficacy.
Choice B reason: Checking the IV bag’s integrity ensures it is free from leaks, cracks, or contamination. A compromised bag can introduce bacteria or air into the bloodstream, leading to infections or embolisms. This step is critical for patient safety before initiating infusion.
Choice C reason: Selecting a vented administration set depends on the fluid type and container. While important, it is secondary to ensuring the bag’s integrity, as a damaged bag could lead to contamination or improper fluid delivery, posing immediate risks to the patient.
Choice D reason: Calculating tonicity is unnecessary, as IV fluids are pre-formulated with known tonicity (e.g., isotonic, hypotonic). The nurse’s priority is ensuring the bag is intact to prevent contamination or fluid loss, which directly impacts patient safety and treatment effectiveness.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","E"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Starting a new IV site allows administration of incompatible medication without mixing with the primary fluid, preventing chemical reactions that could alter drug efficacy or cause precipitation, ensuring safe delivery.
Choice B reason: Administering slowly with a syringe does not address incompatibility. Mixing with the primary fluid risks precipitation or inactivation, potentially causing emboli or reduced therapeutic effect, making this method unsafe.
Choice C reason: Not administering the medication avoids incompatibility but delays treatment, which may harm the patient. Alternative methods, like a new IV site or flushing, ensure safe delivery without withholding necessary therapy.
Choice D reason: Flushing with sterile water is inappropriate, as it is hypotonic and may cause hemolysis or fluid shifts. Normal saline is the standard flush to maintain catheter patency and prevent drug interactions during administration.
Choice E reason: Flushing with 10 mL of normal saline before and after administration clears the catheter of incompatible fluids, preventing precipitation or drug inactivation. Saline maintains isotonicity, ensuring safe and effective medication delivery.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: A drop factor of 10 gtts/mL is typical for macrodrip tubing, used for rapid fluid administration in adults. It delivers larger drops, requiring fewer drops per milliliter, unsuitable for microdrop tubing, which is designed for precise, smaller-volume infusions, such as in pediatrics or critical care settings.
Choice B reason: A drop factor of 15 gtts/mL is also associated with macrodrip tubing, used for standard IV infusions in adults. It delivers larger drops than microdrop tubing, making it inappropriate for situations requiring precise control of small fluid volumes, such as in neonatal or critical care scenarios.
Choice C reason: Microdrop tubing has a drop factor of 60 gtts/mL, delivering smaller drops for precise fluid administration. This is critical in pediatrics or when administering small volumes of medication, ensuring accurate dosing and minimizing fluid overload risks in sensitive populations.
Choice D reason: A drop factor of 20 gtts/mL is used in some macrodrip sets, not microdrop tubing. It is designed for general adult infusions, delivering larger drops than microdrop tubing, which is unsuitable for precise, low-volume fluid administration required in specialized settings like pediatrics.
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