The patient is diagnosed with suspected bacteremia. The physician has ordered blood cultures from two different sites. The patient is complaining of chills and has an elevated temperature
What action should the nurse take in the presence of these symptoms? a. Delay drawing the blood cultures until symptoms subside.
b. Draw blood from only one site to prevent further discomfort.
c. Draw the blood cultures as ordered.
d. Draw blood from the patient's intravenous (IV) catheter.
C
Because bacteremia may be accompanied by fever and chills, blood cultures should be drawn when the patient is experiencing these clinical signs. It is important that at least two culture specimens be drawn from two different sites. Bacteremia exists when both cultures grow the infectious agent. Because blood culture specimens obtained from an IV catheter are frequently contaminated, tests that use them should not be performed unless catheter sepsis is suspected.
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