Complications of Intravenous therapy

Complications of Intravenous therapy ( 39 Questions)

A nurse is caring for a client with an IV catheter in place for medication administration. The nurse observes redness, warmth, and swelling around the insertion site, and the client reports tenderness and pain. Which complication of IV therapy should the nurse suspect?


Correct Answer: C

A) This choice is incorrect because infiltration involves the inadvertent administration of IV fluid into the surrounding tissues, not redness, warmth, and tenderness around the insertion site.

B) This choice is incorrect because extravasation occurs when IV fluid or medication leaks into the surrounding tissues due to catheter puncture, but it does not present with redness and swelling.

C) This choice is correct. The client's symptoms of redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and pain around the insertion site are indicative of phlebitis, which is the inflammation of the vein caused by irritants in the IV solution or mechanical trauma from the catheter.

D) This choice is incorrect because an air embolism is not associated with symptoms of phlebitis, such as redness and swelling around the IV site.




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