Practice Test Geeks(VABC) Vascular Access Board Certification Practice Test
← All VABC Flashcard Decks

Vascular Access Devices & Technologies Flashcards

7 cards from real VABC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Vascular Access Devices & Technologies flashcards as text

  1. A midline catheter is appropriately placed when its tip terminates in which anatomical location?

    Answer: Basilic or cephalic vein between the antecubital fossa and the axilla

    Midline catheters are defined by tip placement in the peripheral venous system, typically in the upper arm veins, not reaching central circulation.

  2. Which type of implanted port requires a non-coring (Huber) needle because:

    Answer: Standard needles core out the silicone septum, causing leakage over time

    Huber needles have an angled bevel that deflects through the septum without removing a core of silicone, preserving septum integrity for thousands of punctures.

  3. Which dressing type is recommended by the INS as the standard for securing a PICC insertion site?

    Answer: Sterile transparent semipermeable membrane (TSM) dressing

    INS standards recommend a sterile TSM dressing because it allows visual inspection of the site while maintaining a sterile barrier; it is changed every 5-7 days or when soiled.

  4. An umbilical venous catheter (UVC) tip should ideally be positioned at which location?

    Answer: Junction of the inferior vena cava and right atrium

    Optimal UVC tip position is at the IVC-right atrium junction to ensure central placement while avoiding cardiac arrhythmias and hepatic complications from portal/hepatic vein placement.

  5. Which characteristic distinguishes a tunneled CVC from a non-tunneled CVC?

    Answer: The catheter travels subcutaneously from the exit site to the venous entry site

    Tunneled catheters (e.g., Hickman, Broviac) have a subcutaneous tunnel that reduces infection risk and provides stability, making them appropriate for long-term use.

  6. The Dacron cuff on a tunneled catheter serves what primary function?

    Answer: Anchors the catheter by promoting tissue ingrowth to prevent migration and reduce infection

    Fibrous tissue grows into the Dacron cuff within 2-3 weeks, securing the catheter in place and creating a mechanical barrier against microorganism migration along the catheter tract.

  7. Which vascular access device is CONTRAINDICATED for vesicant chemotherapy administration?

    Answer: Midline catheter

    Midline catheters terminate in peripheral veins and are contraindicated for vesicant administration due to the risk of extravasation injury in non-central vessels.