Collection ProceduresQuestion 17 of 100
An inpatient has an IV infusing in the left forearm and no accessible veins in the right arm. What is the best action?
a.Draw directly above the IV site with the infusion running
b.Ask the nurse to stop the infusion, wait at least two minutes, then draw below the IV and discard the first 5 mL
c.Draw from the IV line without flushing it
d.Cancel the order and document that no site was available
Explanation
When no other site exists, the infusion is stopped by licensed personnel, a short wait allows the fluid to clear, the draw is made distal to the IV so blood has not passed the infusion point, and a discard volume clears residual fluid. Drawing above a running IV dilutes the specimen with infusate. Drawing from a line without flushing gives contaminated results, and simply canceling the order abandons a resolvable problem.
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