Does anyone know if there is an INS standard related to the number of attempts a nurse should be limited to (per nurse as well as overall) for accessing an implanted port - I cannot locate this in any INS standard or publication? I know we have the recommendation related to peripheral IV attempts for no more than 2 attempts by any one clinician and no more than a total of 4 attempts per patient. Would this be the same recommendation for the implanted ports?
I am very curious about the situation that brought up his question. If you need 4 attempts to access an implanted port, those nurses do not need to be doing this procedure because they do not have this competency. If you cannot access the port with 1, maybe 2 attempts it is time to have Radiology evaluate the posiiton of the port body. There is no standard because I have never seen this be an issue and there are no studies about this.
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
Lynn,
I absolutely agree! This did not occur at my location but I was asked for my input as a CRNI. I appreciate your thoughts on this and support regarding my stance on this topic.
Nancy Moran, BSN, RN, CRNI, OCN
I am hoping they were asking out of curiosity and not a real patient. Port bodies can flip over or turn on their side. Some nurses may not know the normal feel of one and don't know what they are palpating. Let's hope that is the cause.
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