NURS 30035 Exam 1 Study Guide
Exam with Actual Answers 2025-2026
Update.
Purpose of IV Therapy - Answer -Maintenance or replacement of fluids and electrolytes
-Provide glucose and nutrition
-Access route to administer medications intravenously
-Venous access to administer blood products
-Venous access for emergencies
-pt is NPO
Complications of IV Therapy - Answer -Infiltration
-Phlebitis
-Infection
-Occlusion
-Fluid overload
-Air embolism
Infiltration - Answer -Fluid in subcutaneous tissue, slowed infusion rate
-fluid is leaking into sub tissue, some may be getting to vein, no therapeutic effect
-Swelling
-Cool to touch
-because IV fluid is cool
-Tissue has increased firmness
-Absence of blood return (Not Diagnostic)
-don't always have to see a blood return when youre in a vein
-ALWAYS needs to have a flash of blood when first inserting the IV
-Pain or discomfort at site
Extravasation - Answer -Infiltration with tissue toxic substances
-causes necrosis as a result of the fluids leaking outside of the vein
-Occurs with Vasopressors:
-Dobutamine, Dopamine, Epinephrine
-Antidote: Regitine (5mg/9mlNS)
,-administer antidote thru the IV that is leaking to reverse the effects of the fluid that is leaking
and causing the harm/necrosis
-Occurs with chemotherapeutic agents
-Adriamycin, Vincristine, Bleomycin etc.
-Apply cold
-too constrict vessels
-prefer to give thru a central line (far less likley to infiltrate)
-CT dyes or contrasts, will not push thru IV without a blood return
Infiltration and Extravasation: Prevention / Nursing Interventions - Answer -Position IV site to
prevent dislodgement
-Secure tubing and access device
-Protect IV tubing and site when ambulating patient
-Check patency and position of access device prior to administration of all medications and
fluids
-Secure tubing and access device
-Assess site q1-2 hrs
-Be aware if antidote available
-Will need to d/c IV if this occurs
-if IV is clamped and nothing is going thru it, assess every 8 hours or hospital policy
Phlebitis - Answer Inflammation of a vein
-Red streak along vein-- follows the vein
-Skin is warm, hot along vein
-Vein firm / Cord-like
-firm, taut—not plump and bouncy
-Causes Discomfort
-painful for patients, will tell you the medication burns, is uncomfortable
-dilute medication if it is burning
-discontinue IV and start new one
-no standard protocol for phlebitis, patient dependent
-monitor vital signs-- temp will go up, heart rate goes up, BP may go down all with infection
Phlebitis: Prevention / Nursing Interventions - Answer -Standard IV precautions
-Buffer irritating meds & hypertonic solutions
-If Phlebitis occurs:
, -D/C IV & restart (will need IV ATBs)
-Cold compresses 1st, then warm compresses
-Culture site/device (as ordered/protocal)
-Monitor VS
-Document
Mechanical Phlebitis - Answer Long periods of cannulation, catheter in a flexed area,
catheter gauge larger than vein, poorly secured catheter
-digging in vein can cause this
Chemical Phlebitis - Answer From an irritating medication or solution, rapid infusion rate,
medication incompatibilities
Post Infusion Phlebitis - Answer Don't see often, not reported as much as it should, happens
48-96 hours after an IV is removed
Bacterial Phlebitis - Answer -Poor hand hygiene, lack of aseptic technique, failure to check
equipment, or recognize early signs of phlebitis
-Often occurs during insertion
-Based on insertion—site might not have been cleansed enough, solution is outdated or expired
Infection - Answer -More prevalent with central lines
-because they are in for much longer than peripheral lines are in
-go straight to the heart and more blood is being pumped from the vena cava that possibly has
an infection
-Local: Contained
-Systemic (sepsis): throughout body, involves several systems, organism/toxins in blood
-Leading cause of deaths in ICU's
-60-70% deaths caused by Gram Neg. Bacteria
-Bacterium: Bacteria in blood
Infection: Prevention / Nursing Interventions - Answer -Hand hygiene
-Hand Washing, Gloves
-Artificial Nails
-16 neonatal deaths, (CDC,2000) attributed to one nurse and artificial nails
-Sterility of access/equipment
Exam with Actual Answers 2025-2026
Update.
Purpose of IV Therapy - Answer -Maintenance or replacement of fluids and electrolytes
-Provide glucose and nutrition
-Access route to administer medications intravenously
-Venous access to administer blood products
-Venous access for emergencies
-pt is NPO
Complications of IV Therapy - Answer -Infiltration
-Phlebitis
-Infection
-Occlusion
-Fluid overload
-Air embolism
Infiltration - Answer -Fluid in subcutaneous tissue, slowed infusion rate
-fluid is leaking into sub tissue, some may be getting to vein, no therapeutic effect
-Swelling
-Cool to touch
-because IV fluid is cool
-Tissue has increased firmness
-Absence of blood return (Not Diagnostic)
-don't always have to see a blood return when youre in a vein
-ALWAYS needs to have a flash of blood when first inserting the IV
-Pain or discomfort at site
Extravasation - Answer -Infiltration with tissue toxic substances
-causes necrosis as a result of the fluids leaking outside of the vein
-Occurs with Vasopressors:
-Dobutamine, Dopamine, Epinephrine
-Antidote: Regitine (5mg/9mlNS)
,-administer antidote thru the IV that is leaking to reverse the effects of the fluid that is leaking
and causing the harm/necrosis
-Occurs with chemotherapeutic agents
-Adriamycin, Vincristine, Bleomycin etc.
-Apply cold
-too constrict vessels
-prefer to give thru a central line (far less likley to infiltrate)
-CT dyes or contrasts, will not push thru IV without a blood return
Infiltration and Extravasation: Prevention / Nursing Interventions - Answer -Position IV site to
prevent dislodgement
-Secure tubing and access device
-Protect IV tubing and site when ambulating patient
-Check patency and position of access device prior to administration of all medications and
fluids
-Secure tubing and access device
-Assess site q1-2 hrs
-Be aware if antidote available
-Will need to d/c IV if this occurs
-if IV is clamped and nothing is going thru it, assess every 8 hours or hospital policy
Phlebitis - Answer Inflammation of a vein
-Red streak along vein-- follows the vein
-Skin is warm, hot along vein
-Vein firm / Cord-like
-firm, taut—not plump and bouncy
-Causes Discomfort
-painful for patients, will tell you the medication burns, is uncomfortable
-dilute medication if it is burning
-discontinue IV and start new one
-no standard protocol for phlebitis, patient dependent
-monitor vital signs-- temp will go up, heart rate goes up, BP may go down all with infection
Phlebitis: Prevention / Nursing Interventions - Answer -Standard IV precautions
-Buffer irritating meds & hypertonic solutions
-If Phlebitis occurs:
, -D/C IV & restart (will need IV ATBs)
-Cold compresses 1st, then warm compresses
-Culture site/device (as ordered/protocal)
-Monitor VS
-Document
Mechanical Phlebitis - Answer Long periods of cannulation, catheter in a flexed area,
catheter gauge larger than vein, poorly secured catheter
-digging in vein can cause this
Chemical Phlebitis - Answer From an irritating medication or solution, rapid infusion rate,
medication incompatibilities
Post Infusion Phlebitis - Answer Don't see often, not reported as much as it should, happens
48-96 hours after an IV is removed
Bacterial Phlebitis - Answer -Poor hand hygiene, lack of aseptic technique, failure to check
equipment, or recognize early signs of phlebitis
-Often occurs during insertion
-Based on insertion—site might not have been cleansed enough, solution is outdated or expired
Infection - Answer -More prevalent with central lines
-because they are in for much longer than peripheral lines are in
-go straight to the heart and more blood is being pumped from the vena cava that possibly has
an infection
-Local: Contained
-Systemic (sepsis): throughout body, involves several systems, organism/toxins in blood
-Leading cause of deaths in ICU's
-60-70% deaths caused by Gram Neg. Bacteria
-Bacterium: Bacteria in blood
Infection: Prevention / Nursing Interventions - Answer -Hand hygiene
-Hand Washing, Gloves
-Artificial Nails
-16 neonatal deaths, (CDC,2000) attributed to one nurse and artificial nails
-Sterility of access/equipment
