Question 1

Which intravenous (IV) fluid should the nurse prepare when a patient requires an isotonic solution?

Accepted Answer

0.9% Normal saline is an isotonic solution, meaning it has the same osmolarity as body fluids, making it suitable for maintaining fluid balance without causing cells to shrink or swell.

Question 2

The nurse is initiating intravenous (IV) therapy for an adult patient who requires IV fluid infusion for 2 to 3 days and might require blood administration. Which would the nurse choose as the best option for IV catheterization?

Accepted Answer

A short over-the-needle catheter is suitable for short-term IV therapy, such as 2 to 3 days, and can accommodate blood transfusions.

Question 3

Which component should the nurse anticipate will be prescribed for a patient who is not responding to crystalloids for volume expansion?

Accepted Answer

Albumin is often used for volume expansion when crystalloids are not effective, as it is a colloid that can help maintain plasma osmotic pressure and thus retain fluid in the intravascular compartment.

Question 4

The nurse prepares to initiate intravenous (IV) access for an older adult patient who requires a blood transfusion. Which gauge needle is best for the nurse to use for this procedure?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse prepares to initiate intravenous (IV)...

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient who is to have a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line inserted tomorrow. Because the patient's current peripheral access line is infiltrated and needs to be restarted, which site would the nurse avoid using?

Accepted Answer

The median cubital vein is often avoided for peripheral access when a PICC line is planned because it is a common site for PICC line insertion. Using this site for peripheral access could potentially damage the vein, making PICC line insertion more difficult.

Question 6

The nurse provides care to several patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which situation requires the nurse to follow up with the healthcare provider before administering the prescribed treatment?

Accepted Answer

Fresh frozen plasma is typically used to treat deficiencies in clotting factors, not thrombocytopenia, which is a low platelet count. The other options (A, C, D) are appropriate treatments for the conditions described.

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a patient who needs to have a peripheral intravenous catheter placed. When the patient requests to have the intravenous (IV) started in the foot, what is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Starting an IV in the foot can increase the risk of thrombophlebitis, which is inflammation and clotting in the vein.

Question 8

The nurse is assessing an intravenous (IV) insertion site noting redness, warmth, and mild swelling. The patient reports a burning pain along the course of the vein during medication administration. Which term should the nurse use when documenting these findings in the medical record?

Accepted Answer

Phlebitis is characterized by inflammation of the vein, which is indicated by symptoms such as redness, warmth, swelling, and pain along the vein, especially during medication administration. These symptoms match the description provided.

Question 9

The nurse administers a blood transfusion to a patient who begins to experience itching and shortness of breath. The nurse notes the patient has hives and facial flushing. Which is the priority action by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Stopping the transfusion is the priority action when a patient shows signs of a transfusion reaction, such as itching, shortness of breath, hives, and facial flushing, to prevent further exposure to the triggering blood product.

Question 10

In monitoring a patient receiving a blood transfusion, the nurse correlates which clinical manifestation as indicative of a hemolytic transfusion reaction?

Accepted Answer

A hemolytic transfusion reaction is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication that can occur during or after a blood transfusion. It happens when the immune system of the recipient attacks the transfused red blood cells, leading to their destruction. Fever is a common symptom of this reaction, as the body responds to the incompatibility between the donor's and recipient's blood. Other symptoms can include chills, back pain, and a feeling of unease, but fever is a primary indicator.

Question 11

Which intravenous (IV) fluid should the nurse prepare when a patient requires a hypotonic solution?

Accepted Answer

0.33% Sodium chloride is a hypotonic solution, meaning it has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the body's cells. This causes water to move into the cells, making it suitable for patients needing cellular hydration.

Question 12

The nurse anticipates which fluid movement when administering an isotonic IV fluid to a patient?

Accepted Answer

Isotonic IV fluids have the same osmolality as body fluids, causing no net movement of fluid into or out of the cells.

Question 13

The nurse performs an hourly check of a patient's intravenous site and notes erythema. The patient denies pain or discomfort. Based on this data, what should the nurse document in the patient's medical record?

Accepted Answer

Grade 1 phlebitis is characterized by erythema at the site and may not necessarily be accompanied by pain or discomfort, which aligns with the patient's symptoms.

Question 14

The nurse is reviewing new healthcare provider orders on a patient admitted for treatment of severe dehydration. The patient's serum osmolality is 300 mOsm/kg. It is a priority for the nurse to follow up with the provider if which solution is ordered?

Accepted Answer

0.45% Normal saline is a hypotonic solution, which could exacerbate the patient's condition by further diluting the serum osmolality in a patient who is already severely dehydrated. The other options are isotonic or hypertonic solutions that would help to correct or maintain the patient's osmolality.

Question 15

The nurse is providing care to a trauma patient who will require the rapid administration of large volumes of fluid in addition to a blood transfusion. Which gauge should the nurse use when initiating intravenous (IV) access for this patient?

Accepted Answer

For rapid administration of large volumes of fluid and blood transfusions, a larger bore catheter is preferred. An 18-gauge IV catheter allows for faster flow rates, making it suitable for trauma patients requiring rapid fluid and blood administration.

Question 16

The nurse correlates the administration of which blood component to the patient with acute blood loss?

Accepted Answer

Packed red blood cells are administered to patients with acute blood loss to restore blood volume and improve oxygen-carrying capacity, directly addressing the primary issue of significant blood loss.

Question 17

Which component should the nurse anticipate will be prescribed for a patient with severe thrombocytopenia?

Accepted Answer

Platelets are the component of blood that helps with clotting, so they are typically prescribed for patients with thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by a low platelet count.

Question 18

In providing care to a patient with a severe fluid deficit, which prescribed intravenous solution does the nurse recognize as most effective in expanding plasma volume?

Accepted Answer

Albumin is a colloid solution that is more effective in expanding plasma volume compared to crystalloid solutions like normal saline and dextrose solutions. It works by increasing the oncotic pressure in the blood, drawing fluid from the interstitial to the intravascular space, thus expanding plasma volume more efficiently.

Question 19

Which component should the nurse anticipate will be prescribed for a patient with an elevated prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) who is at an increased risk for bleeding?

Accepted Answer

Fresh frozen plasma is used to treat patients with elevated PT and INR because it contains clotting factors that can help correct the coagulopathy and reduce the risk of bleeding.

Question 20

Which intravenous (IV) fluid should the nurse prepare when a patient requires a hypertonic solution?

Accepted Answer

5% Dextrose in lactated Ringer's is a hypertonic solution, which means it has a higher concentration of solutes than the fluid inside the body's cells. This type of solution is used to draw fluids out of the cells, increasing the extracellular fluid volume.

Quiz 10: Overview of Infusion Therapies