Practice Question
A nurse is preparing to insert a peripheral IV catheter into a client's arm. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to help dilate the vein?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Dangle the client's arm over the edge of the bed.
Rationale:
🟦 Dangling the arm lowers it below the level of the heart, which increases venous pressure and promotes venous filling.
🟦 Gravity helps blood pool in the veins, making them larger, easier to visualize, and easier to cannulate.
🟦 This technique is simple, noninvasive, and widely recommended for adults with difficult venous access.
🟦 It increases the success rate of IV insertion and reduces the number of attempts required.
❌ Incorrect Answers
❌ Apply a cool compress — Cold causes vasoconstriction, making the vein smaller.
❌ Stroke the skin proximal to the site — Stroking distally may help, but stroking proximal does not dilate the vein.
❌ Have the client flex the arm with hand open — Flexing can collapse the vein, not dilate it.
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This question is from RN Fundamentals 2023 DEC which contains 67 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Fundamentals of Nursing
- Answer Choices: 4