The nurse notes that the site of a client's peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter is reddened, warm, painful, and slightly edematous proximal to the insertion point of the IV catheter. After taking appropriate steps to care for the client, the nurse documents in the medical record that the client has experienced:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described (redness, warmth, pain, and slight edema proximal to the insertion point) are indicative of phlebitis, which is inflammation of a vein. These symptoms do not align with infiltration (which involves fluid leaking into the surrounding tissue), hypersensitivity to the IV solution, or an allergic reaction to the catheter material, which would likely present differently.

The Nurse Notes That the Site of a Client's Peripheral