The nurse is caring for a patient with a peripheral intravenous access that is used intermittently for medications but is not a continuous infusion. Which technique should the nurse use for rou-tine care of this peripheral line?
a. Flush with a low concentration of heparin.
b. Always change the end cap with each me-dication dose.
c. Change the intravenous (IV) insertion site every day.
d. Flush with 0.9% saline solution.
D
Guidelines for the nursing care and maintenance of IV access devices include regular flushes with normal saline solution to assess for and maintain patency since the line is not used con-stantly. Heparin flushes are not considered routine but are specifically ordered for use in certain patients. The end cap does not need to be changed with every medication dose unless this is agency policy, but it does need to be swabbed with an antiseptic. Routine nursing care of an IV site should prevent phlebitis and infiltration. Changing the IV insertion site daily causes patient discomfort, increases costs, and is contraindicated.
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