What should be done if there is blood return during device flushing?

When there is blood return during device flushing, verifying blood return and assessing patency is crucial. Blood return indicates that the vascular device is properly placed and functioning as intended. This confirms that the catheter or access device is still in the bloodstream and has not become occluded or malpositioned, which is essential for ensuring that therapy, such as medication or fluids, will be effectively delivered.

Recognizing blood return is particularly vital in maintaining patient safety and ensuring effective treatment. If blood return is observed, it is an opportunity to proceed confidently with further administration of fluids or medications, as it suggests that there's no blockage in the device. Verifying this patency is an important step before continuing any procedure.

Other options focus on different actions that may not directly address the implications of blood return seen during flushing. Using a smaller syringe may not affect the situation significantly, changing the dressing does not relate to the immediate clinical assessment of the device function, and stopping the procedure would be premature, given that blood return indicates the device is still patent and usable.