What are field sticks in IV practice?

• A. IVs that are placed only in hospital settings.
• B. IVs placed outside of the hospital.
• C. Central venous lines.
• D. A type of IV used for lab draws.

Answer: (B)

Field sticks are peripheral IV access lines placed outside the hospital, during field or prehospital care. The emphasis is on setting: access obtained in non-hospital environments—on the scene, in an ambulance, or other field locations—to quickly establish venous access for fluids or medications before the patient reaches a hospital. This distinguishes them from IVs placed inside a hospital or from central venous lines, which are inserted into larger central veins and are more invasive and longer-term. While labs can sometimes be drawn from any IV, field sticks are defined by their field, outside-hospital context rather than by their use for lab draws.