my coworker was recently asked to place a picc on a 12 year old patient, now this patient is 5’ and 180lbs!!! My coworker is not pediatric picc certified, only certified for adult piccs! We use vasonova in our facility which is currently not approved for pediatric use! Of course my coworker refused due to not feeling comfortable with it and we have no policy in place regarding pediatric piccs! Our manager said since the policy does not specify adult, that she should be covered!!! Of course she still refused and our IR team also refused due to out of their scope of practice! I feel she was right to refuse, can anyone give me some feedback on this?
Body size is the same as adults. Venous anatomy and physiology of blood flow is the same regardless of age. Procedure is the same. The only difference is the appropriate approach used based on age and their stage of growth and development. Any textbook would have information on the different ages and the best way to approach each age and manage their fears and concerns about a procedure like this. I would have no problem with inserting a PICC in this 12 year old including use of ECG. This is far from a premature neonate or a critically ill infant.
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