If an intravenous infusion is in place, what is the correct method for helping a patient put on a hospital gown?

If an intravenous infusion is in place, what is the correct method for helping a patient put on a hospital gown?

• A. Disconnect the IV, quickly put on the gown, and reconnect the IV.
• B. Apply the gown through her right arm and drape the other sleeve over her right shoulder.
• C. Apply the gown sleeves over both arms, keeping the tubing inside the gown.
• D. Insert the IV bag through the sleeve from the inside of the gown.

Answer: (D)

When a patient has an IV, the goal is to dress the patient without pulling, kinking, or dislodging the IV line. You want to protect the infusion while the gown is being put on, so the line remains secure and uninterrupted. In this approach, threading the IV bag through the sleeve from inside the gown allows you to don the gown without tugging on the IV line. The line stays connected at the insertion site, and the bag and tubing are kept positioned so they won’t snag or pull as the gown is pulled over the arm. This minimizes risk of dislodgement, occlusion, or contamination and avoids the need to disconnect the IV. Disruptive options would risk pulling on the catheter, interrupting the infusion, or compromising sterility. Keeping the IV line controlled and unthreatened by the dressing process is the safest practice.

When a patient has an IV, the goal is to dress the patient without pulling, kinking, or dislodging the IV line. You want to protect the infusion while the gown is being put on, so the line remains secure and uninterrupted.

In this approach, threading the IV bag through the sleeve from inside the gown allows you to don the gown without tugging on the IV line. The line stays connected at the insertion site, and the bag and tubing are kept positioned so they won’t snag or pull as the gown is pulled over the arm. This minimizes risk of dislodgement, occlusion, or contamination and avoids the need to disconnect the IV.

Disruptive options would risk pulling on the catheter, interrupting the infusion, or compromising sterility. Keeping the IV line controlled and unthreatened by the dressing process is the safest practice.