Forum topic

The policy I wrote called for annual checkoff with infection control. Even the best of us can get sloppy, new items (such as a change in furniture) show up in patient rooms, new products come along. It doesn't hurt to have another set of eyes make certain we are still doing the very best for our patients. As far as competency, we require 2 piccs per month, 24 annually.

 The emphasis for initial competency assessment should be on a designated number of completely successful insertions. The entire procedure is accomplished including patient assessment for the right VAD, insertion and confimration of the right tip location, and all documentation. The number is set by each facility and is often 3 to 5. Some may accomplish this is 5 to 7 attempts while oher may take dozens of attempts to accomplish the designated number of successful insertions. 

Ongoing competeny is totally different. It should not be repeating the procedure in its entirely for observation by a preceptor. Ongoing competency should be linked to your clinical outcomes. Then you alter the periodic competency toward improving those outcomes. If you have a problem with vein thrombosis your focus may be on appropriate selection of the size of the VAD and appropriate tip location. The 2016 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice will include a significant reducation to the standard on competency assessment and validation. Lynn