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Lydia Harris
Cap changes

Keeping track of cap changes on Central lines can be a challenge in large facilities. I would be interested in hearing how others track when cap changes are due.  We have tried stickers etc and it isn't the best system to use. The stickers fall off etc. 

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Danielle McClain
Cap Changes

It is very hard to keep track of cap changes at my facility. Most floors have instituted a Sunday/Wednesday change protocol, however, this does sometimes lead to extra changing if a cap is changed early for occlusion/etc. The last cap change should always be recorded in our electronic medical record, however, upon reviewing some CLABSI cases it appears this is often skipped. Recently it has come to our attention that many facilities are also changing their propofol lumen connectors everytime the administration set is changed. CDC seems kind of grey on the subject, and we have failed to locate any research specifically supporting it.

Danielle McClain RN, BSN

 

lynncrni
 Due to a variety of

 Due to a variety of different products, I would urge everyone to pay careful attention to terminology. "Cap" in this original message could mean the needleless connector but there is also the category of devices known as disinfection caps that are solid caps containing an alcohol soaked sponge and placed on top of the needleless connector. So you can see that the use of "cap" will be confusing. 

The needleless connector should always be changed when the IV administration set is changed. For continuous infusion, the use of needleless connectors is an unresolved issue. For decades, continuous infusions were performed with the male luer of the IV set connected directly to the female catheter hub without a connector of any kind. I do NOT think they should be used in continuous infusions now. They add risk and there is no evidence for or against them. They were designed for intermittent access. 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

JackDCD
Cap Changes

I assume you mean injection caps....We change them with every dressing change. If your drawing blood , it's a good idea to change the cap after the blood draw.

Jack

lynncrni
 There is no evidence

 There is no evidence supporting the practice of changing a needleless connector following each blood sampling from a CVAD. The only available evidence is for obtaining blood cultures from a CVAD and that evidence says that the needlelss connector should be removed BEFORE obtaining the sample. 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

Danielle McClain
Needleless connectors

Our facility had some discussion recently regarding their use and it was decided by administration that since all of our CVADs are clamped lines that the connectors would remain in use. They fear that without them if a line someone becomes un-clamped the risk for bleeding/air embolism is much greater.

Danielle McClain RN, BSN

 

Lydia Harris
I apologize. I am asking

I apologize. I am asking about the needleless connector. Thank you all for your input.  i think the plan going forward will to pick certain days of the week. Not a perfect plan, but at least we hope they are changed on those days.

Cindybr76
 We use EPIC as our EMR.We

 We use EPIC as our EMR.We have a line on our flow sheet that has the date the needless connector or "cap" is due to be changed. Cindy

 Cindy Brown RN BSN CPN

IV Nurse Educator/Clinician

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