Question

The nurse is preparing to initiate an IV line containing a high dose of potassium chloride and plans to use an IV infusion pump. The nurse brings the pump to the bedside, prepares to plug the pump cord into the wall, and notes that no receptacle is available in the wall socket. The nurse should take which action next?

a) Use a nearby extension cord
b) Inform the charge nurse
c) Proceed with the administration
d) Check other outlets

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the charge nurse when encountering an issue with the availability of wall sockets for an IV infusion pump. Extension cords may pose a safety hazard, and it's crucial to ensure the pump is properly powered before administering medication.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is preparing to initiate an IV line with a high dose of potassium chloride (KCl) and discovers that no wall socket is available to plug in the IV infusion pump, the most appropriate action to take next would be to inform the charge nurse. Using an extension cord could pose a safety risk, and proceeding with the administration without ensuring the pump has a power source is not advisable. It may also be prudent to check other outlets for availability, but the immediate step would be to communicate the issue to a higher authority to resolve the problem safely and effectively. In a hospital setting, it is unlikely an aide would retrieve a pre-made IV bag of the exact concentration needed for a patient; instead, they would likely have to dilute a stock solution to the correct concentration.