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dtarvin
PICC lumen documenting in regards to Standard number 17 criteria A

I am trying to interpret Standard 17 under "practice criteria A" states "The nurse should not use color coding , color differentiation, or color matching for product or medication identification.  How do we document the lumen we are talking about on a PICC line. The manufacturers have colored each lumen. There are no numbers or names on these lumens. We are using electronic charting at our facility and they have the charting of the lumens of a PICC as  "proximal, medial, and distal". We all know this is inaccurate. So how do we name these multi lumen catheters if we can't document them by their color? Or am I interpreting this Standard wrong?

lynncrni
I don't think you are

I don't think you are applying this standard correctly. Color coding is when you designate a lumen for infusion of only XX by the color of that lumen. For instance red lumen will always get antibiotics. There is no science supporting that this practice actually reduces medication errors. Color matching is when you merge 2 pieces together based solely on the color of those components. Again no science to support this as reducing errors. But communication about the red lumen having resistance and no blood return and needing tPA is neither of these. Lynn

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

athertod
PICC lumen documentation

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what standard are you referring to? Is this a joint commission or CMS standard? Another organization? If so, can you gice the complete citation so I can track it down? We are facing this same question currently at our organization.
Thanks

Denise Atherton

lynncrni
The 2011 edition of the

The 2011 edition of the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice from the Infusion Nurses Society, the primary document used in all legal cases to assess whether a nurse met the standard of care. Lynn

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

athertod
THANKS!

Thank you so much Lynn! Very helpful:)

Denise

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