Question

The nurse is supervising a new nurse orientee while providing care to a client with a central venous catheter. The nurse should intervene when the new nurse is observed performing which of the following actions?

1) Wearing non-sterile gloves when connecting IV tubing to the central venous catheter
2) Changing the clear catheter dressing after 72 hours
3) Withdrawing venous blood directly from the catheter for a laboratory test of serum potassium
4) Flushing the unused catheter ports with a 3 mL luer lock syringe containing normal saline

Answer 1

The nurse should intervene when a new nurse wears non-sterile gloves while connecting IV tubing to a central venous catheter because this can lead to infections.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should intervene when the new nurse is observed wearing non-sterile gloves when connecting IV tubing to the central venous catheter. This practice is not in compliance with aseptic techniques required for such procedures. The use of sterile gloves is necessary to prevent infections, as central venous catheters can be a common site of bloodstream infections which can be life-threatening. It's vital to adhere to sterile procedures to not only protect patients like Barbara from potential infections but also to reduce overall morbidity and mortality associated with catheter-related bloodstream infections. Flushing the catheter with saline, changing the dressing regularly, and withdrawing blood for tests are all standard practices, provided that proper sterile techniques are used.