Question

33) A nurse must discontinue a patient's intravenous infusion. The nurse shuts off the infusion, washes the hands, and dons clean gloves. Place the following steps in the order in which they should be performed.

1. Apply counter-traction to the skin while loosening the tape at the venipuncture site
2. Apply firm pressure to the site with sterile gauze for two to three minutes
3. Apply a sterile dressing with tape over the venipuncture site
4. Withdraw the needle/catheter along the line of insertion.
5. Examine the end of the needle/catheter

Answer 1

The steps to discontinue an IV infusion are: apply counter-traction to the skin, withdraw the needle/catheter, examine the needle/catheter, apply pressure with sterile gauze, and dress the site with sterile tape.

Step-by-step explanation:

To properly discontinue a patient's intravenous infusion, a nurse should perform the following steps in order:

1. Apply counter-traction to the skin while loosening the tape at the venipuncture site.
2. Withdraw the needle/catheter along the line of insertion.
3. Examine the end of the needle/catheter.
4. Apply firm pressure to the site with sterile gauze for two to three minutes.
5. Apply a sterile dressing with tape over the venipuncture site.

It is crucial to apply counter-traction to stabilize the skin and prevent injury during the removal of the catheter. After ensuring that all parts of the needle/catheter have been removed, pressure is applied to prevent bleeding and to assist in clotting, followed by application of a sterile dressing to minimize the risk of infection.