Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 1707 of 2368
A client's peripheral IV site is swollen, painful, and cool to the touch, and the nurse suspects infiltration. What should the nurse do?
- Slow the infusion and recheck the site in 4 hours
- Discontinue the IV and relocate it to another site
- Secure the catheter with extra tape
- Flush the catheter with a larger volume of saline
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Correct answer: Discontinue the IV and relocate it to another site
Pain, swelling, and cool skin suggest infiltration. As a general guideline, the site is discontinued and the IV is relocated.
Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), IV Therapy Management: Complications of IV Therapy. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026