# The nurse reviews a client with a peripherally inserted central catheter. Which action is the priority?

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=513948&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Medication Administration  
> category: PPT

## Question

The nurse reviews a client with a peripherally inserted central catheter. Which action is the priority?

History

Vitals

Labs

Orders

Notes

A client receiving 14 days of intravenous therapy has a right-arm PICC that remains clinically necessary.

BP 122/68 mm Hg, HR 80/min, RR 16/min, temperature 36.8 C, SpO2 97 percent on room air.

WBC 6,900/mm3. Blood cultures are not ordered because there are no systemic infection findings.

Continue prescribed intravenous therapy through the PICC. Follow central-line dressing policy.

After a shower, the transparent dressing is damp and two edges are loose. The insertion site has no drainage, erythema, tenderness, or swelling.

1

Tape over the loose edges and leave the wet dressing in place until the weekly change.

✕

2

Remove the catheter because every wet dressing indicates a bloodstream infection.

✕

3

Replace the dressing promptly using aseptic technique and reassess the insertion site.

✕

4

Disconnect the infusion and leave the catheter hub open to air while the skin dries.

✕

## Explanation

A damp or loose catheter dressing should be replaced promptly using aseptic technique. The findings do not independently require removal of a needed PICC.

## In-depth explanation

Quick answer
Replace the damp, loose dressing aseptically and inspect the site.

Why this is correct
CDC guidance calls for replacing intravascular catheter dressings when they become damp, loosened, or visibly soiled. Fever alone or a wet dressing without line-site infection does not automatically require central-line removal.

Easy analogy or mental picture
A wet dressing is a broken roof seal: replace the barrier rather than patching over moisture or demolishing the whole structure.

Memory hook
Damp or loose means change the dressing now.

NCLEX decision rule
Restore the sterile barrier promptly, inspect the site, and keep a still-needed catheter only when no removal indication is present.

Why the other choices are wrong
Taping over moisture preserves contamination risk. Unnecessary catheter removal and leaving a hub open create new hazards.References
1CDC: Intravascular Catheter Infection RecommendationsDressing replacement and catheter maintenance

## Clinical scenario

Dressing integrity
Assess moisture, looseness, soil, site findings, catheter need, and systemic evidence before choosing dressing replacement or catheter removal.

## Related questions

- [Before giving a scheduled dose of digoxin, the nurse obtains an apical pulse of 54/min in …](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374883&lang=en)
- [An older adult taking digoxin reports nausea, poor appetite, and yellow-green halos. The a…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374884&lang=en)
- [A client with diabetes who uses insulin and takes propranolol reports sudden sweating and …](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374893&lang=en)
- [A client with bronchial asthma and current wheezing has a first dose of propranolol prescr…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374894&lang=en)
- [Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374901&lang=en)
- [Before administering spironolactone, the nurse notes a potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L and ne…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374902&lang=en)
- [A client taking lisinopril develops sudden swelling of the lips and tongue with hoarseness…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374903&lang=en)
- [A client taking losartan for hypertension reports a positive home pregnancy test. Which in…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374904&lang=en)

## Read in another language

- [en](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=513948&lang=en)
- [ko](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=513948&lang=ko)
- [ja](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=513948&lang=ja)
- [zh-TW](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=513948&lang=zh-tw)
- [vi](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=513948&lang=vi)

---

More free questions: [NCLEX-RN Practice](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_bank.php?lang=en)

_For study reference only. Always follow current clinical guidelines and your institution’s protocols._