The nurse is preparing to remove a peripheral IV from a client. Which nursing action is the priority with this procedure?

  1. checking for an intact catheter tip
  2. washing the hands and donning gloves
  3. charting the client’s tolerance to the procedure
  4. removing catheter slowly using the dominant hand
  5. holding pressure on the site until hemostasis is achieved
Number 2 is correct.
Rationale: Before touching the client, the nurse should wash her hands and don gloves for protection from blood or other body fluids. While all of the other steps are part of the procedure, safety against blood-borne pathogens is the priority.