Nokea
The postpartum nurse notices that the last dose of IV Cefazolin is not running well. The patient’s IV site appears red, inflamed, and swollen. The patient states that the IV is tender and sore. What are the nurse’s next actions?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Remove the IV, restart it in a new location, and complete the antibiotic administration. This is the correct action because the patient's IV site is showing signs of infection (redness, inflammation, swelling, tenderness). By removing the IV, the nurse can prevent the spread of infection and restart the antibiotic infusion in a new, sterile site to ensure proper treatment.
A: Flushing the IV with normal saline will not address the underlying issue of infection and may worsen the patient's condition.
B: Putting the IV antibiotic on a pump for more accurate infusion does not address the fact that the current IV site is infected and needs to be removed.
D: Allowing the IV to continue to drip slowly is not appropriate when the site is showing signs of infection.