Basic Care and ComfortQuestion 726 of 2368
The nurse is choosing a site for a client who needs a continuous IV infusion. Why is the antecubital fossa usually not the best choice?
- The veins there are too small to hold a catheter
- The veins there are too close to the skin surface
- Bending the elbow can mechanically obstruct the catheter
- The veins there cannot be used for blood sampling
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Correct answer: Bending the elbow can mechanically obstruct the catheter
Elbow movement can mechanically obstruct an IV catheter. These large veins are preferred for blood draws rather than routine infusions.
Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Initiate IV Therapy: Venipuncture. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Basic Care and Comfort"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026