Question

A nurse is administering multiple IV push medications to a client through a subclavian central line. Which action will the nurse perform to prevent occlusion of the catheter?

Flush the line between each medication

Clamp the line after administering the medications

Clean the catheter hub for 10 seconds between medication syringes

Use a 1-ml syringe to flush the line

Answer 1

To prevent catheter occlusion, the nurse should flush the line between each medication and clean the catheter hub for 10 seconds between syringes. It is also important to use an appropriately sized syringe to flush the line gently.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent occlusion of the catheter when administering multiple IV push medications through a subclavian central line, the nurse should flush the line between each medication. This is a crucial step to ensure that different medications do not mix within the line, which could lead to precipitation and clog the catheter. Additionally, the nurse should practice aseptic technique by cleaning the catheter hub for 10 seconds between medication syringes to minimize the risk of infection. Clamping the line right after administering the medication may not be necessary and could depend on the protocol. While using a 1-ml syringe is not recommended because it can generate high pressure that may damage the catheter. Instead, a syringe of appropriate size (10 ml or larger) is recommended to provide a gentle flush.