What is the current practice for non- PICC team nurses and repositioning ( pulling back) a PICC line? Nurses were asked to pull back on the catheter 5cm, so that it is in position. The nurses are floor nurses that have not been trained on this. they are trained on PICC removal.
Absolutely NOT! A PICC insertion is not complete until it is in the correct tip location. So the inserter is completely responsible for accomplishing that. You cannot turn this over to a staff nurse due to lack of education, training, knowledge, and skill. Never appropriate. The inserter should remain in the facility until it is correctly placed and if that cannot happen due to need for IR, there must be adequate warning about catheter use and documentation of the plan of care to correctly place the line.
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