As soon as the nurse begins to insert an intravenous catheter in the patient's antecubital space, blood begins to spurt from the site. What should the nurse do first?
a. Finish threading the catheter quickly, and apply a pressure dressing and tape.
b. Remove the catheter, and insert a new one in the same site.
c. Remove the catheter, and apply pressure to the site.
d. Remove the catheter, and call for help.
ANS: C
Spurting blood indicates catheterization of an artery. The catheter must be quickly removed and pressure applied to stop bleeding. Leaving the catheter in an artery or inserting a new one in the same site is inappropriate, because a nurse would never start a peripheral IV in an artery. Calling for help is appropriate, but only after the bleeding has been stopped.
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