A nurse is preparing to flush a client's I.V. catheter before injecting medication. Which steps should be taken by the nurse when flushing the client's intermittent locking device? Prioritize the nurse's actions by placing each step in the correct order.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should first check for patency of the catheter by trying to flush it with a small amount of sodium chloride using the push-pause method. If it flushes easily, then the nurse can proceed to flush with a larger amount of sodium chloride using positive pressure. After flushing, the nurse can administer the medication through the catheter.

A Nurse Is Preparing to Flush a Client's I