IV Therapy & Fluid Management Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 IV Therapy & Fluid Management flashcards as text
According to INS guidelines, peripheral IV catheters in adults should be routinely assessed for site rotation every how many hours?
Answer: 72–96 hours
INS guidelines recommend assessing peripheral IV sites every 72–96 hours and rotating as needed to prevent phlebitis and infection.
A patient receiving IV fluids develops sudden onset dyspnea, crackles, and an S3 heart sound. Which fluid-related complication is most likely?
Answer: Circulatory overload (TACO)
Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO) or fluid volume excess presents with dyspnea, crackles, and S3 gallop due to too-rapid IV fluid administration.
Which action is essential before initiating any blood product transfusion to ensure patient safety?
Answer: Have two nurses verify the patient's name and blood type against the unit label
Two-nurse verification of patient identity and blood product compatibility is the critical safety step to prevent potentially fatal transfusion errors.
A patient's serum sodium is 128 mEq/L. Which clinical manifestations would the LVN expect?
Answer: Nausea, headache, lethargy, and muscle cramps
Hyponatremia (Na+ < 135 mEq/L) causes nausea, headache, lethargy, muscle cramps, and in severe cases seizures due to cerebral edema.
An IV infusion pump alarm sounds indicating 'occlusion.' What should the LVN check first?
Answer: Check for kinks in the tubing, a closed clamp, or positional obstruction
Occlusion alarms most commonly result from kinked tubing, a closed roller clamp, or positional obstruction that the nurse should systematically assess.
Which IV solution is used primarily for patients with increased intracranial pressure to reduce cerebral edema?
Answer: Mannitol 20%
Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic that draws fluid from brain cells into the vasculature, reducing intracranial pressure and cerebral edema.
When flushing a saline lock (intermittent IV device), which technique prevents blood reflux into the catheter?
Answer: Use positive pressure technique while withdrawing the syringe
Positive pressure technique (maintaining forward pressure on the plunger while disconnecting) prevents blood from refluxing back into the catheter lumen.