Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) can be inserted by qualified registered nurses and since PICCs are central lines, the distal tip placement must be verified by chest x-ray and read by a physician prior to its use. Qualified RN’s have been placing PICCs since the early 80’s. Recently in certain parts of the country, their…
A nurse colleague on twitter asked me for tips on starting IV’s in pudgy toddlers. This tweet was followed by another, stating “I have trouble with pudgy at any age”. Yes, I agree. Even to the most experience infusion nurse, pudgy is always a challenge and usually means no chance of finding veins or easy…
For as long as I have been an infusion nurse, I have always used heat to help me find a suitable vein for peripheral venipuncture. The application of heat to the patient’s skin during vein assessment has been very helpful in my practice and prior to insertion has contributed to my “one stick” success. As…
IO as in intraosseous access. An old concept that is now getting more attention as an alternate access for infusion therapy in emergent and non-emergent situations. IO access uses the intraosseous space that contains thousands of non-collapsible intertwined blood vessels that absorbs any fluids. In situations where the peripheral vascular system shuts down, the IO…
Over the past few months, I have received numerous calls from new RN colleagues wanting to attend our infusion training programs so they can get a job. As more calls come in, one thing became obvious, the new RN’s don’t get hired because they lack the clinical experience and in most cases, don’t have the…
During my training classes on biologic infusions, one of the frequently asked questions is…do you use one bag or two bags when you infuse a biologic agent? 2 bags: After an IV access is established, most nurses directly connect a primed IV tubing (usually with Normal Saline) to the IV catheter. This is considered the…
I work for a company that provides training programs for nurses or any healthcare professionals involved in the care of patient needing infusion therapy. We offer training programs on various venous access devices and infusion therapies, including biologics and have always described our educational offerings as training programs or continuing education programs. (www.mcvassociates.com) Yet, the…
I am an infusion nurse, so I think of myself as a technically inclined widget loving person. Somehow I have dragged my feet when it comes to blogging! Why?? I am not really sure. I read a lot of blogs written by both personal and professional bloggers. I must admit I have been overly critical…
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