Management of CareQuestion 1888 of 2368

During assessment, the nurse finds that the external length of a client's PICC line is longer than the length measured at insertion. Which action is appropriate?

  1. Advance the catheter to the original length
  2. Cut the extra length of catheter off
  3. Continue the infusion and measure again next week
  4. Notify the provider and do not push the catheter back in
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Correct answer: Notify the provider and do not push the catheter back in

A catheter that has moved outward should not be readvanced. The provider is notified.

Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Manage Central Lines: Potential Complications and Unexpected Outcomes of CVADs. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Management of Care"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026