A nurse is preparing to insert an IV catheter for a client following a right mastectomy.

Which of the following veins should the nurse select when initiating IV therapy?

A. Change the tubing set every 72 hr:Continuous enteral feeding tubing sets should generally be changed every 24 hours to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. Changing every 72 hours is too long and increases infection risk.

B. Aspirate residual volume every 4 hr:Aspiration of residual volume every 4 hours is standard practice when providing continuous enteral feedings. This ensures the client is tolerating the feedings and helps prevent aspiration or overfeeding. Large residual volumes may indicate poor gastric emptying.

C. Flush the tubing with 10 mL of water every 2 hr:The tubing should be flushed with 30 mL of water every 4-6 hours (depending on protocol), not just 10 mL, to maintain tube patency and prevent clogging.

D. Heat the formula to 40.5° C (105° F):Formula should not be heated to such a high temperature. It should be administered at room temperature to avoid discomfort and potential damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

The correct answer is choicec. “You will need to wear a mask when outside of your room.”

Choice A rationale:

Visitors wearing protective gowns is important to prevent infection, but it is not the primary teaching point for the patient themselves.

Choice B rationale:

Patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplants are typically placed in private rooms to minimize the risk of infection, not semi-private rooms.

Choice C rationale:

Wearing a mask when outside the room is crucial for the patient to protect themselves from infections due to their compromised immune system during the transplant process.

Choice D rationale:

Negative-airflow rooms are used to prevent the spread of airborne infections from the patient to others, not necessarily to keep the air cleaner for the patient.