What nursing intervention is most effective in preventing injury to a patient following administration of epidural anesthesia?

Question

a. Keeping the reversal agent in a syringe in the patient's bedside table
b. Applying a gauze dressing to the epidural catheter insertion site
c. Labeling the tubing that leads to the epidural catheter
d. Asking the nursing assistive personnel to check on the patient at least once every 2 hours

Answer 1

C
To reduce the accidental administration of IV medications into the epidural catheter, the tubing that leads to the epidural catheter needs to be labeled clearly. Medications used to reverse the action of the anesthetic medication need to be kept in a secured location, not in the patient's room in an unsecured location. The epidural insertion site needs to be covered by a clear occlusive dressing to prevent infection and allow the nurse to assess the site. Patients receiving epidural anesthesia need to be monitored every 15 minutes until stabilized and then at least hourly.