The practical nurse is aware that she needs to observe many safety measures related to Mr. Ford's PICC line and the TPN infusion. Which of the following is a nursing action related to client safety?

The practical nurse is aware that she needs to observe many safety measures related to Mr. Ford's PICC line and the TPN infusion. Which of the following is a nursing action related to client safety?

• A. Change all TPN tubing lines every 24 hours.
• B. Label the tubing and filter with the date and time they were changed.
• C. Change the dressing at the catheter insertion site once per shift.
• D. Send the tubing for culture once per week.

Answer: (B)

Labeling the tubing and filter with the date and time of changes is a safety practice that creates a clear, audible record of when each part of the infusion setup was last changed. This traceability helps ensure tubing and filters are replaced at the correct intervals and reduces the risk of contamination or administration errors with the TPN via the PICC line. It keeps all staff on the same page about what is in use and when it was last serviced, which is essential for infection prevention and safe tubing management. Dressing changes for a catheter insertion site are done per protocol and not necessarily every shift; they’re performed based on the dressing type, condition, and policy. Culturing tubing weekly isn’t a standard safety step unless an infection is suspected, as cultures are diagnostic tools rather than routine safety practices.

Labeling the tubing and filter with the date and time of changes is a safety practice that creates a clear, audible record of when each part of the infusion setup was last changed. This traceability helps ensure tubing and filters are replaced at the correct intervals and reduces the risk of contamination or administration errors with the TPN via the PICC line. It keeps all staff on the same page about what is in use and when it was last serviced, which is essential for infection prevention and safe tubing management.

Dressing changes for a catheter insertion site are done per protocol and not necessarily every shift; they’re performed based on the dressing type, condition, and policy. Culturing tubing weekly isn’t a standard safety step unless an infection is suspected, as cultures are diagnostic tools rather than routine safety practices.