The physician orders lidocaine-prilocaine cream to apply to the patient's skin before I.V. insertion. How long before the I.V. insertion should the nurse apply the cream?

Explanation

•Lidocaine-prilocaine cream reaches satisfactory dermal analgesia levels 1 hour after application. It reaches its maximum after 2-3 hours. It should be applied at least 1 hour before the insertion of an IV catheter. For some patients, it can be applied 2 hours before needle insertion to provide maximum relief.

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