Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 87%
Practice
A nurse is assessing a client who reports pain and redness at the site of a peripheral IV. What should the nurse do first?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
When a client reports pain and redness at the site of a peripheral IV, indicating signs of phlebitis, the nurse's initial action should be to discontinue the IV line. This helps prevent further complications and ensures patient safety. Applying a cold compress (Choice A) may provide temporary relief but does not address the underlying issue. Notifying the provider (Choice C) is important but not the initial step. Increasing the IV flow rate (Choice D) can exacerbate the inflammation and should be avoided.