RN Exam Practice
Reduction of Risk PotentialQuestion 736 of 2368

A client's IV site is red, painful, and warm, and purulent drainage is present. Which action should the nurse take?

  1. Apply heat, elevate the limb, and monitor the site for 24 hours
  2. Remove the catheter and culture the drainage and catheter tip
  3. Slow the infusion rate and use a more dilute infusate
  4. Flush the catheter with saline and reassess in 4 hours
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Correct answer: Remove the catheter and culture the drainage and catheter tip

Purulent drainage suggests infectious phlebitis. The catheter is removed and the drainage and tip are cultured.

Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Initiate IV Therapy: Monitoring for Potential Complications. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Reduction of Risk Potential"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026