Final answer:
If resistance is felt when pushing medication through a PICC line, the nurse should stop and try troubleshooting steps like aspirating, checking for kinks, and repositioning the patient's arm. If resistance persists, they should consult a healthcare provider.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a nurse encounters resistance when pushing medication through a PICC line, they should immediately stop the process. Forcing the medication can lead to complications, such as damaging the line or causing patient discomfort. The nurse should then follow protocol, which typically includes trying to gently aspirate or withdraw from the line to check for blood return, assessing the line for kinks or external occlusions, and repositioning the patient's arm to see if it alleviates the resistance. If these steps do not help, the nurse should then pause the medication administration and contact the healthcare provider or a vascular access specialist for further assessment and possible intervention.