A client is receiving an intravenous (IV) infusion of potassium chloride. The nurse notices that the infusion site is red, swollen, and painful. The nurse suspects that the client has developed phlebitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Heparin is an anticoagulant that inhibits clotting factors and prevents thrombus formation. The aPTT is a laboratory test that measures the effectiveness of heparin therapy. The therapeutic range for aPTT is usually 1.5 to 2 times the normal value, which is about 25 to 35 seconds. If the aPTT is above the therapeutic range, this indicates that the client is at risk for bleeding and that the heparin dose is too high.

A) This is not an appropriate action. Stopping the infusion abruptly could put the client is at risk for clotting and complications such as pulmonary embolism or stroke The nurse should only stop the infusion if instructed by the provider or if the client has signs of severe bleeding or haemorrhage.

B) Correct. This is an appropriate action. Decreasing the infusion rate will lower the heparin dose and bring the aPTT back to the therapeutic range. The nurse should notify the provider of the aPTT result and obtain further orders for heparin therapy.

C) This is not an appropriate action. Increasing the infusion rate will raise the heparin dose and increase the aPTT further above the therapeutic range. This could worsen the risk of bleeding for the client.

D) This is not an appropriate action. Continuing the infusion without adjusting the rate or notifying the provider could result in harm to the client due to excessive anticoagulation and bleeding.

The nurse should rotate the injection sites among different muscle groups to prevent tissue damage, irritation, and absorption problems. The nurse should follow the recommended sites for intramuscular injections, such as the deltoid, ventrolateral, vastus lateralis, and dorsogluteal muscles.

A) This is not an action to prevent medication errors, but rather an action to prevent leakage of the medication from the injection site and reduce pain and irritation. The Z-track method involves pulling the skin to one side before inserting the needle and releasing it after withdrawing the needle.

B) This is not an action to prevent medication errors, but rather an action to prevent injecting the medication into a blood vessel. Aspiration involves pulling back on the plunger of the syringe before injecting the medication and checking for blood return in the syringe.

C) This is not an action to prevent medication errors, but rather an action to enhance absorption and reduce pain and irritation. Massage involves applying gentle pressure to the injection site after administering the medication.

D) Correct. This is an action to prevent medication errors by avoiding repeated injections in the same muscle group.