A nurse is preparing to administer two drugs at the same time to a client via a double-lumen midline catheter. Which action by the nurse is most important?
a. Check the two drugs for compatibility.
b. Compare the recommended infusion times.
c. Schedule any post-infusion lab draws.
d. Flush both lumens with saline before starting the infusion.
A
Because midline catheters dwell in the peripheral, not central, circulation, incompatible drugs should not be given together via a double-lumen midline catheter because the flow rate of the blood is not high enough to dilute the drugs before they mix. The other options are valid interventions before starting the infusion, but they do not take precedence over determining whether the drugs may be infused at the same time.
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