IV Therapy Final Exam
1. A bag of intravenous solution should not hang longer than how many hours? ans: 24
hours
2. A physician's order for IV therapy must contain what components? ans: date of order,
type of fluid solution, volume, and length of infusion time
3. A tourniquet should be left no longer than how many minutes? ans: 2 minutes
4. According to the CDC, when should hands be washed, or an alcohol-based hand rub be
used during the venipuncture procedure? ans: before and after palpating IV sites, before
and after inserting IV catheter, and before and after accessing IV system for any purpose
5. After medication is added to a solution, it must be infused or discarded within how many
hours? ans: 24 hours
6. After performing venipuncture, when can you let go of the catheter? ans: after the IV
catheter is secured
7. After the fluids are connected and started, what do you look for? ans: redness, edema,
skin, pain, any other complaints that the patient has
8. Are gloves required during venipuncture? ans: yes
9. At what point in the procedure is the tourniquet removed? ans: Either when blood is
present in the catheter hub or after the nurse has advanced the cannula but before the
stylet is taken out.
10. Besides the tourniquet, identify four ways to further dilate veins. ans: Position arm in a
dependent position, rub or stroke arm, cover entire arm with warm, moist towels for 5 -
10 minutes, and after applying tourniquet, have patient open and close fist
11. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for:
extravasation ans: infiltration of a vesicant
12. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: infection
ans: redness, edema, exudate at siteredness, edema, exudate at site
13. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: infiltration
ans: nonvesicant solution leaks out of vein into surrounding tissue, IV site edematous and
cool
,14. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: pain ans:
discomfort at or above IV site
15. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: phlebitis
ans: inflammation of vein; can result in thrombophlebitis
16. leading to an emboli, pain, erythema at site
17. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: air
embolism ans: *Gas bubble in the vascular space
18. *Venous - small - usually stopped at heart, large - stops blood flow (death)
19. *Arterial - stops blood flow (brain, heart) - shock, decreased LOC, (death)
20. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms:
Circulatory overload (fluid volume excess; FVE ) ans: *Vascular space, heart and
kidneys are unable to handle the excess fluid volume, Especially children and elderly
resulting in heart failure and pulmonary edema
21. *S&S - coughing, wheezing, dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia, hypertension, pulmonary
edema, anxiety, restlessness
22. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms:
incompatability ans: *IV drugs may not be compatible with other IV drugs or solutions.
Drug incompatibility is a true risk to the patient because it can cause
23. crystallization of the solution. This precipitation at the least will clog the IV line and at
the worst present as emboli.
24. *S&S: Same as pulmonary and air embolism.
25. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: infection
ans: *When micro-organisms occur in the bloodstream, this is called sepsis. Sepsis is a
very serious condition, the body's response to this is called
26. systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
27. *S&S - chills, fever, confusion, delirium, hypotention (shock), tachycardia
28. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: pulmonary
embolism ans: *a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a
substance, usually a blood clot, that has travelled from elsewhere (extremity) in the body
through the bloodstream.
29. *S&S - chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, cyanosis, shock state
30. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: speed
shock ans: *a sudden adverse reaction to IV medications or drugs that are administered
too quickly
31. *S&S - causing, irregular heart rhythm, tight feeling in chest, changes in the LOC,
headache, cardiac arrest
, 32. Describe a vein that is suitable for venipuncture. ans: Round, firm, elastic, engorged with
blood; not hard, bumpy or flat
33. Describe how to dress a catheter site using a transparent dressing. ans: Insertion site clean
and dry, DON'T cover tubing and cannula hub, Place transparent dressing over insertion
site and up to cannula hub, don't stretch dressing, and "tuck" transparency dressing
around hub to keep out microorganisms
34. Describe how to immobilize the vein. How long should you maintain immobilization
during venipuncture? ans: Use thumb of nondominant hand to stretch skin downward to
anchor vein. Do not apply too much pressure or you will flatten vein.
35. Describe how to regulate an IV infusing by gravity. How high should the solution be
positioned above the infusion site? ans: The nurse has to first figure out how many
gtt/min to deliver the specific amount of fluid or the dose of medication. Using a watch
with a second hand and using a manual controller to either speed up the gtt/min or the
slow the gtt/ml. IV bag should be 36 inches above insertion site
36. Describe one method for systematic assessment of IV therapy and list its components (i.e,
what are you doing and what are you looking for?) ans: start at IV insertion site and work
toward IV solution
37. Assess for signs and symptoms of fluid overload
38. daily weight
39. I & O
40. skin turgor
41. moist mucus membranes
42. VS
43. LOC
44. lung sounds - new or increased crackles
45. Assess IV site
46. redness
47. edema
48. dressing intact
49. date of insertion
50. rubing connections tight, unkinked
51. fluid, type, rate amount
52. Describe OSHA guidelines regarding the use of tourniquets among clients. ans:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes enforced guidelines
to assist employers in implementing safety standards for employers. Tourniquets are
single patient use only. IV sylets are to have safety shields to reduce the possibility of
needle sticks. Dispose of IV stylets in sharps container. Dispose of sharps container when
½ to ¾ full. Know your "needle stick" protocol in your hospital.
53. Describe the procedure for site care of an IV with a transparent dressing. ans: *Wash
hands
1. A bag of intravenous solution should not hang longer than how many hours? ans: 24
hours
2. A physician's order for IV therapy must contain what components? ans: date of order,
type of fluid solution, volume, and length of infusion time
3. A tourniquet should be left no longer than how many minutes? ans: 2 minutes
4. According to the CDC, when should hands be washed, or an alcohol-based hand rub be
used during the venipuncture procedure? ans: before and after palpating IV sites, before
and after inserting IV catheter, and before and after accessing IV system for any purpose
5. After medication is added to a solution, it must be infused or discarded within how many
hours? ans: 24 hours
6. After performing venipuncture, when can you let go of the catheter? ans: after the IV
catheter is secured
7. After the fluids are connected and started, what do you look for? ans: redness, edema,
skin, pain, any other complaints that the patient has
8. Are gloves required during venipuncture? ans: yes
9. At what point in the procedure is the tourniquet removed? ans: Either when blood is
present in the catheter hub or after the nurse has advanced the cannula but before the
stylet is taken out.
10. Besides the tourniquet, identify four ways to further dilate veins. ans: Position arm in a
dependent position, rub or stroke arm, cover entire arm with warm, moist towels for 5 -
10 minutes, and after applying tourniquet, have patient open and close fist
11. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for:
extravasation ans: infiltration of a vesicant
12. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: infection
ans: redness, edema, exudate at siteredness, edema, exudate at site
13. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: infiltration
ans: nonvesicant solution leaks out of vein into surrounding tissue, IV site edematous and
cool
,14. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: pain ans:
discomfort at or above IV site
15. Define the following local complications and list the signs and symptoms for: phlebitis
ans: inflammation of vein; can result in thrombophlebitis
16. leading to an emboli, pain, erythema at site
17. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: air
embolism ans: *Gas bubble in the vascular space
18. *Venous - small - usually stopped at heart, large - stops blood flow (death)
19. *Arterial - stops blood flow (brain, heart) - shock, decreased LOC, (death)
20. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms:
Circulatory overload (fluid volume excess; FVE ) ans: *Vascular space, heart and
kidneys are unable to handle the excess fluid volume, Especially children and elderly
resulting in heart failure and pulmonary edema
21. *S&S - coughing, wheezing, dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia, hypertension, pulmonary
edema, anxiety, restlessness
22. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms:
incompatability ans: *IV drugs may not be compatible with other IV drugs or solutions.
Drug incompatibility is a true risk to the patient because it can cause
23. crystallization of the solution. This precipitation at the least will clog the IV line and at
the worst present as emboli.
24. *S&S: Same as pulmonary and air embolism.
25. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: infection
ans: *When micro-organisms occur in the bloodstream, this is called sepsis. Sepsis is a
very serious condition, the body's response to this is called
26. systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
27. *S&S - chills, fever, confusion, delirium, hypotention (shock), tachycardia
28. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: pulmonary
embolism ans: *a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a
substance, usually a blood clot, that has travelled from elsewhere (extremity) in the body
through the bloodstream.
29. *S&S - chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, cyanosis, shock state
30. Define the following systemic complications and list the signs and symptoms: speed
shock ans: *a sudden adverse reaction to IV medications or drugs that are administered
too quickly
31. *S&S - causing, irregular heart rhythm, tight feeling in chest, changes in the LOC,
headache, cardiac arrest
, 32. Describe a vein that is suitable for venipuncture. ans: Round, firm, elastic, engorged with
blood; not hard, bumpy or flat
33. Describe how to dress a catheter site using a transparent dressing. ans: Insertion site clean
and dry, DON'T cover tubing and cannula hub, Place transparent dressing over insertion
site and up to cannula hub, don't stretch dressing, and "tuck" transparency dressing
around hub to keep out microorganisms
34. Describe how to immobilize the vein. How long should you maintain immobilization
during venipuncture? ans: Use thumb of nondominant hand to stretch skin downward to
anchor vein. Do not apply too much pressure or you will flatten vein.
35. Describe how to regulate an IV infusing by gravity. How high should the solution be
positioned above the infusion site? ans: The nurse has to first figure out how many
gtt/min to deliver the specific amount of fluid or the dose of medication. Using a watch
with a second hand and using a manual controller to either speed up the gtt/min or the
slow the gtt/ml. IV bag should be 36 inches above insertion site
36. Describe one method for systematic assessment of IV therapy and list its components (i.e,
what are you doing and what are you looking for?) ans: start at IV insertion site and work
toward IV solution
37. Assess for signs and symptoms of fluid overload
38. daily weight
39. I & O
40. skin turgor
41. moist mucus membranes
42. VS
43. LOC
44. lung sounds - new or increased crackles
45. Assess IV site
46. redness
47. edema
48. dressing intact
49. date of insertion
50. rubing connections tight, unkinked
51. fluid, type, rate amount
52. Describe OSHA guidelines regarding the use of tourniquets among clients. ans:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes enforced guidelines
to assist employers in implementing safety standards for employers. Tourniquets are
single patient use only. IV sylets are to have safety shields to reduce the possibility of
needle sticks. Dispose of IV stylets in sharps container. Dispose of sharps container when
½ to ¾ full. Know your "needle stick" protocol in your hospital.
53. Describe the procedure for site care of an IV with a transparent dressing. ans: *Wash
hands
