Question 1

A patient is prescribed 25 mg by intravenous (IV)push of a drug that is a known chemical irritant.The drug vial contains 100 mg/mL of the drug.To reduce the risk for chemical trauma when administering this drug,what is the nurse's best action?

Accepted Answer

Diluting a drug that is chemically irritating can reduce the chemical trauma it produces in veins.It is necessary to check first with the pharmacist to determine which specific fluid can be used to dilute the drug.

Question 2

An 82-year-old patient returns to the floor after being gone for 1 hour for an x-ray examination.On return,the nurse notes that 700 mL of fluid have infused during the last hour and the patient is short of breath.What is the nurse's best action?

Accepted Answer

A volume of 700 mL in an hour is a large amount,even for a much younger patient.The fact that this 82-year-old is now short of breath is an indicator of fluid overload.The nurse slows the IV rate but does not discontinue it.It may be needed to administer IV drugs to treat the fluid overload.The prescriber must be notified immediately of the patient's change in status and this IV volume error.

Question 3

What is the most important advantage for intravenous (IV)infusion of drugs?

Accepted Answer

Drugs administered by IV infusion are immediately in the bloodstream and reach their target tissues fastest.This means that both the drug benefits (intended actions)and any adverse actions can happen more quickly.IV drugs tend to cost more than oral drugs.Although the patient does not have to be alert to receive IV drugs,it is not their main advantage.Administering IV drugs can only be performed by a skilled health care provider.

Question 4

While examining a patient's peripheral intravenous (IV)site,the nurse observes a red streak along the length of the vein.On palpation,the vein feels hard and cordlike.What is the nurse's best action?

Accepted Answer

Phlebitis is an inflammation of the vein.Its presence in a vein being used for IV therapy may be caused by mechanical forces associated with the IV device or by chemical factors related to the composition and osmolarity of the drug solution.The key manifestation is that the symptoms are directly associated with the vein.The vein with phlebitis should not receive any additional fluids and the IV therapy is discontinued.If IV therapy needs to continue,it is restarted in a different vein.

Question 5

A patient is receiving an intravenous (IV)infusion of solution containing 60 mEq/L of potassium chloride.Which nursing action allows early detection of complications common to this therapy?

Accepted Answer

Potassium chloride is an irritant that can traumatize the vein and stimulate the response of phlebitis.When phlebitis is present,the vein feels hard and cordlike above the IV insertion site.

Question 6

A patient is to receive 1000 mL intravenously of dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's solution in 8 hours.When the nurse checks the intravenous (IV)bag after 2 hours,700 mL remain in the bag.How many milliliters have already infused?

Accepted Answer

The amount infused is equal to the starting amount (1000 mL)minus the amount remaining in the IV bag or other container (700 mL).1000 - 700 = 300 mL have infused.

Question 7

A patient is to receive 100 mL of normal saline over the next 5 hours with microdrip tubing.How many drops per minute does the nurse administer to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time?
_____ gtt per minute

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient is to receive 100 mL...

Question 8

The intravenous (IV)site of a patient who has been receiving IV therapy for 2 days is red and has a small amount of pus oozing from around the needle.What is the nurse's best action?

Accepted Answer

An infected infusion site is an indication to immediately discontinue the IV therapy.An order is not needed under these circumstances,but the prescriber should be notified.

Question 9

What is the hourly flow rate for 250 mL of normal saline to be administered over 2 hours?
_____ mL/hour

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the hourly flow rate for...

Question 10

A patient is to receive 1000 mL of D₅W intravenously over 6 hours.The nurse selects a tubing set with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL.How many drops per minute are needed to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time? _____ gtt per minute

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient is to receive 1000 mL...

Question 11

Which precaution is most important for the nurse to teach a patient who is receiving intravenous (IV)drug therapy?

Accepted Answer

Pain and burning at the site are indicators of infiltration and extravasation.These indicators must be investigated as soon as they start to prevent tissue damage.Although it is helpful for the patient to alert the nurse that the machine is beeping,it is not the most important precaution.The patient should never be told to adjust the flow rate.Depending on the specific location of the needle,the arm with the IV can be used gently.

Question 12

How is extravasation different from infiltration?

Accepted Answer

Both conditions result from leakage of fluid out of the vein and into surrounding tissues.Infiltration,although uncomfortable,does not result in tissue damage.Extravasation results directly or indirectly in tissue damage.If the damage is severe enough,tissue can become necrotic and slough.

Question 13

How does the "drop factor" affect IV infusions?

Accepted Answer

The drop factor is the number of drops (gtt)needed to make 1 mL of IV fluid.The larger the drop,the fewer drops needed to make 1 mL.

Question 14

Which problem is a major disadvantage of an intravenous (IV)pump?

Accepted Answer

IV pumps push fluid into the patient at a rate greater than gravity and can continue to push even when resistance is increased.Infiltration or extravasation may not be detected by the machine until the situation is serious.

Question 15

An IV infusion order for a patient reads "1000 mL dextrose 5% in normal saline intravenously,immediately." What additional information does the nurse ask the prescriber to provide?

Accepted Answer

A valid intravenous (IV)therapy order must include the duration of infusion.The word "immediately" in this prescription refers to when the IV infusion is to start,not its duration.

Question 16

A patient is to receive 125 mL of intravenous fluid per hour and the drop factor is 10 gtt per mL.The nurse counts the 15-second drip rate to be 8 gtt per minute.What is the nurse's best action?

Accepted Answer

At 125 mL per hour,the patient should receive 2 mL per minute (125 mL ÷ 60 min).With a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL,the total number of drops per minute should be 20.The 15-second drop rate should be 5 (20 gtt/min ÷ 4).

Quiz 6: Dosage Calculation of Intravenous Solutions and Drugs

A patient is prescribed 25 mg by intravenous (IV) push of a drug that is a known chemical irritant.The drug vial contains 100 mg/mL of the drug.To reduce the risk for chemical trauma when administering this drug,what is the nurse's best action?

An 82-year-old patient returns to the floor after being gone for 1 hour for an x-ray examination.On return,the nurse notes that 700 mL of fluid have infused during the last hour and the patient is short of breath.What is the nurse's best action?

What is the most important advantage for intravenous (IV) infusion of drugs?

While examining a patient's peripheral intravenous (IV) site,the nurse observes a red streak along the length of the vein.On palpation,the vein feels hard and cordlike.What is the nurse's best action?

A patient is receiving an intravenous (IV) infusion of solution containing 60 mEq/L of potassium chloride.Which nursing action allows early detection of complications common to this therapy?

A patient is to receive 1000 mL intravenously of dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's solution in 8 hours.When the nurse checks the intravenous (IV) bag after 2 hours,700 mL remain in the bag.How many milliliters have already infused?

A patient is to receive 100 mL of normal saline over the next 5 hours with microdrip tubing.How many drops per minute does the nurse administer to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time? _____ gtt per minute

The intravenous (IV) site of a patient who has been receiving IV therapy for 2 days is red and has a small amount of pus oozing from around the needle.What is the nurse's best action?

What is the hourly flow rate for 250 mL of normal saline to be administered over 2 hours? _____ mL/hour

A patient is to receive 1000 mL of D₅W intravenously over 6 hours.The nurse selects a tubing set with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL.How many drops per minute are needed to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time? _____ gtt per minute

Which precaution is most important for the nurse to teach a patient who is receiving intravenous (IV) drug therapy?

How is extravasation different from infiltration?

How does the "drop factor" affect IV infusions?

Which problem is a major disadvantage of an intravenous (IV) pump?

An IV infusion order for a patient reads "1000 mL dextrose 5% in normal saline intravenously,immediately." What additional information does the nurse ask the prescriber to provide?

A patient is to receive 125 mL of intravenous fluid per hour and the drop factor is 10 gtt per mL.The nurse counts the 15-second drip rate to be 8 gtt per minute.What is the nurse's best action?

Quiz 6: Dosage Calculation of Intravenous Solutions and Drugs

A patient is prescribed 25 mg by intravenous (IV) push of a drug that is a known chemical irritant.The drug vial contains 100 mg/mL of the drug.To reduce the risk for chemical trauma when administering this drug,what is the nurse's best action?

An 82-year-old patient returns to the floor after being gone for 1 hour for an x-ray examination.On return,the nurse notes that 700 mL of fluid have infused during the last hour and the patient is short of breath.What is the nurse's best action?

What is the most important advantage for intravenous (IV) infusion of drugs?

While examining a patient's peripheral intravenous (IV) site,the nurse observes a red streak along the length of the vein.On palpation,the vein feels hard and cordlike.What is the nurse's best action?

A patient is receiving an intravenous (IV) infusion of solution containing 60 mEq/L of potassium chloride.Which nursing action allows early detection of complications common to this therapy?

A patient is to receive 1000 mL intravenously of dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's solution in 8 hours.When the nurse checks the intravenous (IV) bag after 2 hours,700 mL remain in the bag.How many milliliters have already infused?

A patient is to receive 100 mL of normal saline over the next 5 hours with microdrip tubing.How many drops per minute does the nurse administer to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time? _____ gtt per minute

The intravenous (IV) site of a patient who has been receiving IV therapy for 2 days is red and has a small amount of pus oozing from around the needle.What is the nurse's best action?

What is the hourly flow rate for 250 mL of normal saline to be administered over 2 hours? _____ mL/hour

A patient is to receive 1000 mL of D5W intravenously over 6 hours.The nurse selects a tubing set with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL.How many drops per minute are needed to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time? _____ gtt per minute

Which precaution is most important for the nurse to teach a patient who is receiving intravenous (IV) drug therapy?

How is extravasation different from infiltration?

How does the "drop factor" affect IV infusions?

Which problem is a major disadvantage of an intravenous (IV) pump?

An IV infusion order for a patient reads "1000 mL dextrose 5% in normal saline intravenously,immediately." What additional information does the nurse ask the prescriber to provide?

A patient is to receive 125 mL of intravenous fluid per hour and the drop factor is 10 gtt per mL.The nurse counts the 15-second drip rate to be 8 gtt per minute.What is the nurse's best action?

A patient is to receive 1000 mL of D₅W intravenously over 6 hours.The nurse selects a tubing set with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL.How many drops per minute are needed to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time? _____ gtt per minute