IV Therapy Final Exam UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What equipment and supplies are needed for initiation of IV therapy? - CORRECT
ANSWER - cannulas, tourniquets, clean gloves, site cleansing agent, IV solution, IV
tubing, IV pole, extension tubing, and dressing
Using what gauge, what length catheter and in the what vein will reduce the mechanical and
chemical irritation to the vein wall? - CORRECT ANSWER - smallest gauge, shortest
length, and largest vein
What gauges do cannulas range? - CORRECT ANSWER - 14 to 26
What length do over-the needle catheters range? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3/4 to 3 inches
What length do butterfly style cannulas range? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3/4 to 2 inches
What are the advantages of using extension tubing with over-the needle cannulas? - CORRECT
ANSWER - loops tubing away from the insertion site preventing dislodgement and
mechanical irritation if pulled, tubing can be changed away from the insertion site, and decreased
cannula manipulation and risk for contamination
What gauge is used for children and elderly patients? - CORRECT ANSWER - 22 to 26
gauge
What gauge is used for medical patients and postoperative patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 20 to 24 gauge
What gauge is used for surgical patients and rapid blood administration? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 18 gauge
,What gauge is used for trauma patients and those requiring large volumes of fluid rapidly? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 14 to 16 gauge
What is the purpose of the protective caps at each end of the administration set and when should
they be removed? - CORRECT ANSWER - to keep both ends of the tubing sterile until
immediately prior to use
What parts of the IV therapy equipment must remain sterile? - CORRECT ANSWER -
catheter, tubing insertion spike, and stylet
A bag of intravenous solution should not hang longer than how many hours? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 24 hours
How often should intravenous tubing be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 72 to 96
hours
How often should IV sites be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 96 hours
How often should a gauze dressing be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 48 hours
How often should a transparent dressing be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 days
What type of administration set (tubing) should be used for nonrigid containers (bags)? -
CORRECT ANSWER - nonvented
What type of administration set (tubing) should be used for solutions supplied in glass
containers? - CORRECT ANSWER - vented
What gtt/mL is macrodrip tubing? - CORRECT ANSWER - 10 gtt/mL, 15 gtt/mL, 16
gtt/mL, and 20 gtt/mL
, What gtt/mL is microdrip tubing? - CORRECT ANSWER - 60 gtt/mL
What kind of tubing set do you use to infuse a solution rapidly? - CORRECT ANSWER -
macrodrip
What kind of tubing set do you use to infuse a solution slowly? - CORRECT ANSWER -
microdrip
A physician's order for IV therapy must contain what components? - CORRECT
ANSWER - date of order, type of fluid solution, volume, and length of infusion time
If medication is ordered, identify what additional components to the order must be present. -
CORRECT ANSWER - date, drug, dose, frequency of drug, length of infusion time, and
dilution strength
True or False: Prior to initiating IV therapy, the nurse must check the expiration date on the
solution, and inspect the solution and container for particles,
discoloration, cracks, leaks, or punctures. - CORRECT ANSWER - true
What is time tape? What is the advantage of using time tape? Should you write directly on the
solution container with a marker? Why or why not? - CORRECT ANSWER - monitors IV
fluid/medication delivery. You can quickly see if the rate of IV delivery needs to be adjusted. You
should not write directly on IV solution bag as it is absorbed through the IV plastic bag
What is the difference between IV push (IVP) or bolus versus intermittent IV therapy? Do LPNs
administer IVP medications? - CORRECT ANSWER - IVP is a medication given directly
into the IV line and is pushed over a set time identified in IV Medication books, ie, Lasix 10mg
over 1 min. A bolus is directly pushed into the IV line at a steady rate, ie 50% dextrose. LPNs do
NOT give IVP medications
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What equipment and supplies are needed for initiation of IV therapy? - CORRECT
ANSWER - cannulas, tourniquets, clean gloves, site cleansing agent, IV solution, IV
tubing, IV pole, extension tubing, and dressing
Using what gauge, what length catheter and in the what vein will reduce the mechanical and
chemical irritation to the vein wall? - CORRECT ANSWER - smallest gauge, shortest
length, and largest vein
What gauges do cannulas range? - CORRECT ANSWER - 14 to 26
What length do over-the needle catheters range? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3/4 to 3 inches
What length do butterfly style cannulas range? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3/4 to 2 inches
What are the advantages of using extension tubing with over-the needle cannulas? - CORRECT
ANSWER - loops tubing away from the insertion site preventing dislodgement and
mechanical irritation if pulled, tubing can be changed away from the insertion site, and decreased
cannula manipulation and risk for contamination
What gauge is used for children and elderly patients? - CORRECT ANSWER - 22 to 26
gauge
What gauge is used for medical patients and postoperative patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 20 to 24 gauge
What gauge is used for surgical patients and rapid blood administration? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 18 gauge
,What gauge is used for trauma patients and those requiring large volumes of fluid rapidly? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 14 to 16 gauge
What is the purpose of the protective caps at each end of the administration set and when should
they be removed? - CORRECT ANSWER - to keep both ends of the tubing sterile until
immediately prior to use
What parts of the IV therapy equipment must remain sterile? - CORRECT ANSWER -
catheter, tubing insertion spike, and stylet
A bag of intravenous solution should not hang longer than how many hours? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 24 hours
How often should intravenous tubing be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 72 to 96
hours
How often should IV sites be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 96 hours
How often should a gauze dressing be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 48 hours
How often should a transparent dressing be changed? - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 days
What type of administration set (tubing) should be used for nonrigid containers (bags)? -
CORRECT ANSWER - nonvented
What type of administration set (tubing) should be used for solutions supplied in glass
containers? - CORRECT ANSWER - vented
What gtt/mL is macrodrip tubing? - CORRECT ANSWER - 10 gtt/mL, 15 gtt/mL, 16
gtt/mL, and 20 gtt/mL
, What gtt/mL is microdrip tubing? - CORRECT ANSWER - 60 gtt/mL
What kind of tubing set do you use to infuse a solution rapidly? - CORRECT ANSWER -
macrodrip
What kind of tubing set do you use to infuse a solution slowly? - CORRECT ANSWER -
microdrip
A physician's order for IV therapy must contain what components? - CORRECT
ANSWER - date of order, type of fluid solution, volume, and length of infusion time
If medication is ordered, identify what additional components to the order must be present. -
CORRECT ANSWER - date, drug, dose, frequency of drug, length of infusion time, and
dilution strength
True or False: Prior to initiating IV therapy, the nurse must check the expiration date on the
solution, and inspect the solution and container for particles,
discoloration, cracks, leaks, or punctures. - CORRECT ANSWER - true
What is time tape? What is the advantage of using time tape? Should you write directly on the
solution container with a marker? Why or why not? - CORRECT ANSWER - monitors IV
fluid/medication delivery. You can quickly see if the rate of IV delivery needs to be adjusted. You
should not write directly on IV solution bag as it is absorbed through the IV plastic bag
What is the difference between IV push (IVP) or bolus versus intermittent IV therapy? Do LPNs
administer IVP medications? - CORRECT ANSWER - IVP is a medication given directly
into the IV line and is pushed over a set time identified in IV Medication books, ie, Lasix 10mg
over 1 min. A bolus is directly pushed into the IV line at a steady rate, ie 50% dextrose. LPNs do
NOT give IVP medications
