IV Therapy Final Exam
What equipment and supplies are needed for initiation of IV therapy? - ANS-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? - ANS-smallest gauge, shortest length, and
largest vein
What gauges do cannulas range? - ANS-14 to 26
What length do over-the needle catheters range? - ANS-3/4 to 3 inches
What length do butterfly style cannulas range? - ANS-3/4 to 2 inches
What are the advantages of using extension tubing with over-the needle cannulas? -
ANS-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? - ANS-22 to 26 gauge
What gauge is used for medical patients and postoperative patients? - ANS-20 to 24
gauge
What gauge is used for surgical patients and rapid blood administration? - ANS-18
gauge
What gauge is used for trauma patients and those requiring large volumes of fluid
rapidly? - ANS-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? - ANS-to keep both ends of the tubing sterile until
immediately prior to use
What parts of the IV therapy equipment must remain sterile? - ANS-catheter, tubing
insertion spike, and stylet
,A bag of intravenous solution should not hang longer than how many hours? - ANS-24
hours
How often should intravenous tubing be changed? - ANS-72 to 96 hours
How often should IV sites be changed? - ANS-96 hours
How often should a gauze dressing be changed? - ANS-48 hours
How often should a transparent dressing be changed? - ANS-7 days
What type of administration set (tubing) should be used for nonrigid containers (bags)? -
ANS-nonvented
What type of administration set (tubing) should be used for solutions supplied in glass
containers? - ANS-vented
What gtt/mL is macrodrip tubing? - ANS-10 gtt/mL, 15 gtt/mL, 16 gtt/mL, and 20 gtt/mL
What gtt/mL is microdrip tubing? - ANS-60 gtt/mL
What kind of tubing set do you use to infuse a solution rapidly? - ANS-macrodrip
What kind of tubing set do you use to infuse a solution slowly? - ANS-microdrip
A physician's order for IV therapy must contain what components? - ANS-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. - ANS-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. - ANS-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? - ANS-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? - ANS-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
Describe how to regulate an IV infusing by gravity. How high should the solution be
positioned above the infusion site? - ANS-The nurse has to first figure out how many
gtt/min to deliver the specific amount of fluid or the dose of medication. Using a watch
with a second hand and using a manual controller to either speed up the gtt/min or the
slow the gtt/ml. IV bag should be 36 inches above insertion site
What is the difference between an electronic pump and a controller? - ANS-electronic
pump controls IV fluid infusion by a computer and controller is controlled manually
(gravity drip) by the nurse
True or false: an infusion pump will stop administering an IV solution is an IV infiltrates. -
ANS-false
True or false: The best time to change the tubing is when the IV solution bag is
changed. - ANS-true
True or false: IV tubing sets will remain sterile for 72 hours even when the patient is
receiving blood and fat emulsions. - ANS-false
True or false: IV bags should be replaced when there is 200 cc left in the bag. -
ANS-false
True or false: The drop factor for microdrip tubing is 10gtt/mL. - ANS-false
True or false: An IV running too slowly has the potential to clot. - ANS-true
True or false: A sudden increase in the amount of solution infused may result in a
patient's death. - ANS-true
True or false: IV tubing is tagged with the date and time to indicate when tubing
replacement is necessary. - ANS-true