Before connecting the sample syringe to an adult's arterial line stopcock, what would you do?
A) Flush the line and stopcock with the heparinized intravenous solution.
B) Aspirate 1 to 2 ml of fluid or blood using a waste syringe.
C) Align the stopcock off to the patient and on to the flush solution.
D) Increase the flush-solution bag pressure by 20 to 30 mm Hg.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Before connecting the sample syringe to an adult's arterial line stopcock, it is important to aspirate 1 to 2 ml of fluid or blood using a waste syringe to remove any stagnant blood or air that might have accumulated near the catheter tip or connection site. This ensures an accurate result and reduces the risk of contamination. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Flushing the line and stopcock with the heparinized intravenous solution, aligning the stopcock off to the patient and on to the flush solution, or increasing the flush-solution bag pressure by 20 to 30 mm Hg are not necessary steps before connecting the sample syringe.

Before Connecting the Sample Syringe to an Adult's Arterial Line