Forum topic

We are actually looking for the same thing.  We are a Vascular Access Team we place PICCs and round daily on all central lines and perform dressing changes and maintenance.  We are looking to start having 2 on a day instead of just 1 and round daily on the units to see if we can find pt who may need lines sooner.  We want to get a vesicant list from pharmacy in the am and see how those pt access is.  If anyone has any paperwork or ideas or who is already doing this please contact us at [email protected]

We currently do the following on our VAT: 1. Place PICC's, do daily rounding on all PICC's, do all dressing changes and trouble shooting with PICC's. 2.  Start difficult IV's hospital wide.  3.  Administer CathFlo.  4.  Cannulate and decannulate ports as requested by non-trained staff.  5. Daily rounding on all Ports except for the oncology wing, change dressings, and trouble shoot.  6.  Teach 2 classes per month on Ports.  7.  Provide a monthly education newsletter to all nursing staff on VAT issues.  8.  Sit on the Products Committee, Policy and Procedure Committee, Transfusion Committee and the Service Excellance Committee.  9.  Assist Human Resources with IV education during new employee orientation.  10.  Assist units with skills fairs.  11.  Act as resource for all outlying Nursing Facilities/Rehab Centers.  Will go to these facilities if needed to assist with specific problems.  12.  Monitor Event Reporting regarding VAT issues.  13.  Provide one on one education to nurses with IV start skills.

We only have 5 members on the team - 2 full-time, 2 resource and a one-day-a-week member.  We have 2 people each day and cover 7a-7p, 7 days per week.

I think your name is holding you back. A PICC team or PICC insertion service focuses exclusively on PICC insertion, often without involvement in the appropriateness of the catheter choice, etc. A vascular access team has broadened their involvement to include a pre-insertion assessment about correct catheter choice. What you are describing is the scope and role of a broad-based infusion therapy team. We have tried to separate infusion therapy from vascular access and it has not worked. These 2 entities are a marriage of necessity. The care of the catheter after insertion has more influence on the outcome of the catheter than the ~60 minute procedure for insertion. Think about all of the staff nurses with hands on that catheter. This has got to receive the proper priority to improve the outcomes associated with the routine nursing care. The infusion nurse specialist serves as the resourse, consultant, educator, researcher, manager, direct caregiver, etc. I am not talking about a team that is responsible for administering all IV meds. A few infusion teams have used that model but those are also gone. There has to be a middle ground here between insertion only and everything. Staff nurses need huge amounts of support on addressing all catheter and infusion management issues. We can not abandom or ignore these needs. Lynn