What is the appropriate action for a nurse when discontinuing a peripheral IV?

When discontinuing a peripheral IV, inspecting the catheter for intactness after removal is crucial. This action ensures that no part of the catheter has broken off and been left in the patient's bloodstream, which could lead to complications such as embolism or infection.

Checking the integrity of the catheter helps verify that the entire device has been successfully removed, maintaining patient safety. It’s a key component of the practice to assess for complications that might arise from improper IV removal.

While applying pressure to the site is necessary to prevent bleeding and may be part of the protocol, the primary focus is first ensuring that the catheter is complete and intact. Flushing the IV line is not applicable once it is being discontinued, as it is no longer in use, and documenting the fluid amount infused primarily serves record-keeping purposes rather than immediate patient safety during the discontinuation process.