NURS 171 Exam 2 Practice Questions
and Correct Answers
A nurse initiating a peripheral IV infusion punctures the skin and selected vein and
observes blood return in the flashback chamber of the IV catheter. Which of the
following actions should the nurse perform next? ✅Lower the catheter until it is almost
flush with the skin
A nurse finds a patient's IV insertion site red, warm, and slightly edematous. Which of
the following actions should the nurse perform first? ✅Discontinue the IV line
Which of the following is an important nursing action when converting an IV infusion to a
saline lock? ✅Flush the IV catheter to confirm patency
A nurse is discontinuing an IV infusion. For which of the following reasons is it important
to verify and document the integrity and condition of the IV catheter? ✅A broken off
catheter tip indicates the risk for an embolus
A nurse has just initiated a new peripheral IV infusion with 5% dextrose in water for
continuous infusion. How often should the nurse plan to replace the primary infusion
tubing? ✅Every 96 hours
A nurse is removing an IV catheter from a patient whose IV infusion has been
discontinued. Which of the following actions is appropriate? ✅Pull the catheter straight
back from the insertion site
A patient in early stage renal failure is prescribed an infusion of 0.45% sodium chloride.
This type of solution is appropriate because it ✅Dilutes extracellular fluid and
rehydrates the cells
A nurse who has just initiated an IV infusion explains to the patient that complications
are possible and that she will monitor the infusion regularly. The nurse should teach the
patient that which of the following findings is an indication of early infiltration?
✅Coolness
A nurse has just inserted a peripheral IV catheter for a continuous infusion. To secure
the catheter, the nurse should ✅Leave the connection between the hub and the tubing
uncovered
A patient is to receive 1,000 mL of 5% dextrose in Lactated Ringer's over 8 hours. Using
tubing with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL the nurse should regulate the fluid to infuse at how
many drops per minute? ✅31
, A nurse administers the first dose of a patient's prescribed antibiotics via IV piggyback.
During the first 10 to 15 minutes of administration of the medication, the nurse gives
priority to which of the following assessments? ✅Patient for systemic allergic reaction
A nurse is about to administer an intravenous medication directly into the vein. The
nurse should understand that a disadvantage of parenterally administered medications
is that they ✅Are irreversible
A patient was admitted to the hospital for same day surgery and has orders for
continuous IV therapy. Before performing a venipuncture, the nurse should ✅Inspect
the IV solution for fluid color, clarity, and expiration date
A nurse is assessing a patient receiving IV normal saline at 125 mL/hr. Which of the
following should the nurse recognize as a possible complication related to the IV
therapy? ✅Patient reports cough an shortness of breath
A nurse is caring for a patient with peripherally inserted catheter (PICC Line). Which of
the following is true about this type of IV route? ✅A PICC line is a long catheter
inserted through the veins of the antecubital fossa
A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving D5W with 20 mEq of KCL at 75 mL/hr.
The provider has prescribed 1 g ceftriaxone (Rocephin) IV. When preparing to
administer this medication by IV piggyback, which of the following data is the highest
priority for the nurse to collect? ✅The medication's compatibility with the primary IV
solution
A patient is to receive 1 g of ceftriaxone (Rocephin) in 100 mL over 30 min. The tubing
drip rate is 10 gtt/mL. The nurse should adjust the flow rate to what infusion rate? ✅33
gtt/min
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) at 75
mL/hr through a triple lumen central venous catheter. The pump is alarming that there is
an occlusion. Which of the following is the first thing the nurse should do? ✅Check the
line at or above the hub for kinked tubing that is creating a resistance to flow
A patient who sustained trauma from a motor-vehicle crash is transported to an
emergency department. The provider determines the need for immediate central venous
access for fluid and blood replacement and prophylactic antibiotic therapy. The
appropriate central venous access device for this patient is ✅A nontunneled
percutaneous central catheter
A nurse caring for a patient who has gastric cancer is initiating an infusion of parenteral
nutrition via the patient's implanted port. Which of the following is an appropriate action
for the nurse to take? ✅Cover the device and the needle with a sterile transparent
dressing
and Correct Answers
A nurse initiating a peripheral IV infusion punctures the skin and selected vein and
observes blood return in the flashback chamber of the IV catheter. Which of the
following actions should the nurse perform next? ✅Lower the catheter until it is almost
flush with the skin
A nurse finds a patient's IV insertion site red, warm, and slightly edematous. Which of
the following actions should the nurse perform first? ✅Discontinue the IV line
Which of the following is an important nursing action when converting an IV infusion to a
saline lock? ✅Flush the IV catheter to confirm patency
A nurse is discontinuing an IV infusion. For which of the following reasons is it important
to verify and document the integrity and condition of the IV catheter? ✅A broken off
catheter tip indicates the risk for an embolus
A nurse has just initiated a new peripheral IV infusion with 5% dextrose in water for
continuous infusion. How often should the nurse plan to replace the primary infusion
tubing? ✅Every 96 hours
A nurse is removing an IV catheter from a patient whose IV infusion has been
discontinued. Which of the following actions is appropriate? ✅Pull the catheter straight
back from the insertion site
A patient in early stage renal failure is prescribed an infusion of 0.45% sodium chloride.
This type of solution is appropriate because it ✅Dilutes extracellular fluid and
rehydrates the cells
A nurse who has just initiated an IV infusion explains to the patient that complications
are possible and that she will monitor the infusion regularly. The nurse should teach the
patient that which of the following findings is an indication of early infiltration?
✅Coolness
A nurse has just inserted a peripheral IV catheter for a continuous infusion. To secure
the catheter, the nurse should ✅Leave the connection between the hub and the tubing
uncovered
A patient is to receive 1,000 mL of 5% dextrose in Lactated Ringer's over 8 hours. Using
tubing with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL the nurse should regulate the fluid to infuse at how
many drops per minute? ✅31
, A nurse administers the first dose of a patient's prescribed antibiotics via IV piggyback.
During the first 10 to 15 minutes of administration of the medication, the nurse gives
priority to which of the following assessments? ✅Patient for systemic allergic reaction
A nurse is about to administer an intravenous medication directly into the vein. The
nurse should understand that a disadvantage of parenterally administered medications
is that they ✅Are irreversible
A patient was admitted to the hospital for same day surgery and has orders for
continuous IV therapy. Before performing a venipuncture, the nurse should ✅Inspect
the IV solution for fluid color, clarity, and expiration date
A nurse is assessing a patient receiving IV normal saline at 125 mL/hr. Which of the
following should the nurse recognize as a possible complication related to the IV
therapy? ✅Patient reports cough an shortness of breath
A nurse is caring for a patient with peripherally inserted catheter (PICC Line). Which of
the following is true about this type of IV route? ✅A PICC line is a long catheter
inserted through the veins of the antecubital fossa
A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving D5W with 20 mEq of KCL at 75 mL/hr.
The provider has prescribed 1 g ceftriaxone (Rocephin) IV. When preparing to
administer this medication by IV piggyback, which of the following data is the highest
priority for the nurse to collect? ✅The medication's compatibility with the primary IV
solution
A patient is to receive 1 g of ceftriaxone (Rocephin) in 100 mL over 30 min. The tubing
drip rate is 10 gtt/mL. The nurse should adjust the flow rate to what infusion rate? ✅33
gtt/min
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) at 75
mL/hr through a triple lumen central venous catheter. The pump is alarming that there is
an occlusion. Which of the following is the first thing the nurse should do? ✅Check the
line at or above the hub for kinked tubing that is creating a resistance to flow
A patient who sustained trauma from a motor-vehicle crash is transported to an
emergency department. The provider determines the need for immediate central venous
access for fluid and blood replacement and prophylactic antibiotic therapy. The
appropriate central venous access device for this patient is ✅A nontunneled
percutaneous central catheter
A nurse caring for a patient who has gastric cancer is initiating an infusion of parenteral
nutrition via the patient's implanted port. Which of the following is an appropriate action
for the nurse to take? ✅Cover the device and the needle with a sterile transparent
dressing
