Nursing students are learning the skill of starting a peripheral IV in the skills lab setting. After gathering all the supplies, the nurse would begin to prepare the site. How should the nurse always start?

Question

A) Leave one hand ungloved to assess the site
B) Prepare the skin with an iodine solution
C) Ask the patient if he is allergic to latex or iodine
D) Remove excessive hair at the selected site

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback: Before preparing the skin, the nurse should ask the patient if he or she is allergic to latex or iodine, which are products commonly used in preparing for IV therapy. A local reaction could result in irritation to the IV site, or, in the extreme, it could result in anaphylaxis, which can be life threatening. Option A is incorrect; both hands should always be gloved when preparing for IV insertion, and latex-free gloves must be used or the patient must report that he has no latex allergies. Option B is incorrect; preparing the skin with an iodine solution is dependent on the report of no allergies to iodine solutions and that iodine is the recommended solution for IV preparation as outlined in the policy and procedures manual. Option D is incorrect; removing excessive hair at the selected site is always secondary to allergy inquiry.