A nurse is caring for a client who has a placenta previa.

Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

The correct answer is choice D, a noncoring needle.

A noncoring needle is a special type of needle that has a beveled tip and a side hole. It is designed to prevent damage to the port’s septum, which is the soft silicone top that serves as the vein access point.

A noncoring needle also reduces the risk of infection and clotting.

Choice A is wrong because a butterfly needle is a small, winged needle that is used for peripheral venous access, not for accessing a port. A butterfly needle can damage the port’s septum and cause leakage or infection.

Choice B is wrong because an angiocatheter is a thin, plastic tube that is inserted into a vein using a needle.

It is used for short-term IV therapy, not for accessing a port. An angiocatheter can also damage the port’s septum and cause complications.

Choice C is wrong because a 25-gauge needle is too small to access a port.

A 25-gauge needle is typically used for subcutaneous injections, not for intravenous injections. A 25-gauge needle can also clog the port or cause hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells).

Normal ranges for ports vary depending on the type and size of the port, but generally they have a reservoir diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 cm, a catheter length of 40 to 60 cm, and a catheter diameter of 0.8 to 1.2 mm. Ports are usually flushed with saline or heparin solution every 4 to 6 weeks when not in use to prevent clotting.

B) I can visit my nephew who has chickenpox 5 days after the sores have crusted.

This statement indicates an understanding of infection prevention because it demonstrates knowledge about the contagious period of chickenpox. Visiting someone with chickenpox after the sores have crusted is a safe practice, as the person is no longer contagious.

The other options represent misconceptions about infection prevention:

A) Taking antibiotics for a viral infection is not effective, as antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not viruses.

C) This statement is identical to option B and is incorrect.

D) Cleaning a cat's litter box during pregnancy is generally not recommended due to the risk of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can be transmitted through cat feces. Pregnant individuals are advised to have someone else handle cat litter or to use gloves and wash their hands thoroughly if they must do it themselves.