We are looking into revising our PICC training policy so that one of our nurses is responsible for training our other nurses, Â rather than paying a Rep to come in. I am looking for specific qualifications for such a job, if any exist. Any suggestions??
Many of us need to consider "self study" models followed by preceptorship. Will the catheter company provide you with a Self Study Ed pkg for theory and exam (prn) and your nurse provide a preceptorship?
You could also see if your hospital will purchase a learning program for the PICC Insertion courses for example the PICC Excellance course.
Your preceptorship qualifications could follow the Practice Criteria outlined in INS "Practice Criteria" and "Clinical Competencies" (Vol 29 Jan/Feb 2006) as a framework and make them PICC specific????? I am in the same process.
Hope this helps.
You may want to check with the rep for your catheters. I work for Bard Access and we provide both online training and in person precepting to our customers. Education is a high priority for us.
Good luck
Lisa Y., RN, BSN University of Pittsburgh Medical Center/Horizon IV Therapy
Nadine Nakazawa, RN, BS, VA-BC
All nurses who are beginning to learn PICC insertions must attend a continuing education course as Nadine described in her previous message. This is crucial to the success of each nurse and can not be omitted. These courses are available from many sources including PICC manufacturers and private education companies. There are traditional classroom courses, self-study paper based courses, and online courses.
Following the successful completion of this course, each learner must have a period of supervised clinical practice. It is the decision of your hospital how many insertions must be supervised before the nurse can practice without supervision. Most of the time it is between 3 to 5. The question is who will do this precepting. Manufacturers can provide the continuing education course, however they do not generally have the resources to send a preceptor into each facility for 3 to 5 insertions by each nurse. So your hospital needs to designate a highly experienced PICC nurse that will be responsible for all precepting on PICC insertions.
The INS PICC Education Module recommends the following
Precepting PICC insertions - at least 5 successful catheter insertions
Teaching a PICC course - at least 25 successful insertions
There are other qualifications listed for those learning to place PICCs including 1600 hours clinical practice over 2 years with IV responsibility, documented experience with CVC management, completing a continuing education PICC insertion course, and completed the period of supervised clinical practice. 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