A client experiencing continuous generalized tonic-clonic motor activity requires emergent administration of intravenous phenytoin. The client currently has a single 18-gauge peripheral venous catheter with a primary infusion of 5% dextrose in half-normal saline (D5 0.45% NaCl) running at 75 mL/hr. To ensure safe delivery of the anticonvulsant, which action must the nurse execute?
- Temporarily halt the primary fluid, irrigate the venous catheter with normal saline, inject the anticonvulsant, and irrigate again with normal saline.Cevap
- BAttach the medication syringe to the distal port of the primary tubing and push the drug slowly while the primary solution continues to infuse.
- CMix the prescribed dose into a 100 mL bag of 5% dextrose in water and infuse it as a secondary intermittent piggyback.
- DDelay the administration until a secondary peripheral venous access can be established to prevent drug precipitation in the primary line.
Cevap
Temporarily halt the primary fluid, irrigate the venous catheter with normal saline, inject the anticonvulsant, and irrigate again with normal saline.
The correct action safely addresses the chemical incompatibility between phenytoin and the dextrose-containing primary fluid while prioritizing emergent treatment. By temporarily stopping the infusion and thoroughly flushing the line with normal saline before and after the phenytoin injection, the nurse prevents drug precipitation and ensures the rapid delivery of a life-saving anticonvulsant without the dangerous delay of starting a new IV.
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Anahtar Kavram
Phenytoin must only be administered with 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) due to severe incompatibility and precipitation with dextrose solutions. In emergent situations, incompatible primary fluids must be stopped and the line flushed with normal saline before and after administration.