Question

A nurse is monitoring a client who has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy by peripheral IV infusion. The client reports pain at the insertion site and the nurse notes fluid leaking around the catheter. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

1) Assess the client's vital signs
2) Notify the healthcare provider
3) Remove the catheter
4) Apply pressure to the insertion site

Answer 1

The nurse should first apply pressure to the insertion site to control pain, prevent fluid leakage, and minimize the risk of infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should first apply pressure to the insertion site in order to control the pain, prevent further leakage of fluid, and minimize the risk of infection. By applying pressure, the nurse can help stop the bleeding and promote clotting at the site of the catheter.

It seems like your prompt is quite broad, and "infection" can refer to a wide range of conditions caused by the invasion and multiplication of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. I'll provide a general overview, but if you have a specific type of infection or context in mind, feel free to provide more details for a more targeted response.