Good morning! Just tuching base and letting you know I am now in possession of the CDC 2002 recommendations to prevent catheter-related infection, Plumbers Principles and Practices of IV Therapy, and the INS Infusion nurses society 2006 standards. I appreciate your recommendation! I have 8 weeks to read before the hospital orientation. I'll look into doing the Bard online Picc didactic once I'm a little further into the books/pubs. How much time would you say is required for the online course? Thanks again, I'll keep in touch-
Jessamy

Thank you for all the info! I copied it to a Word document so I can re-read it easily. Question re: the Plumers Principles and Practice of IV Therapy- on Amazon they have two, one is the 8th edition by Sharon M Weinstein, and the other is the original printing by Ada Plumer. Which do you recommend? I downloaded the CDC info and went to the ONS website as well for their latest pub. On the INS the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice is $55 for non-members to download. Pretty expensive but it seems essential information to have. I'll research the pH of various IVF- I am familiar with extravasation but will do more research. I appreciate the vast scope of IV nursing and look forward to pouring through all this information & practicing my skills. It's been awhile for sure, but during my skills review for my RNR course, I whipped through the PIV insertion like I never missed a day. I always loved IV access and know it is just the TIP of the iceberg!
I'll keep in touch... Many thanks!

Jessamy

Hi ILUVIVT- Hopefully I am doing this right! Thanks for the guidance on the PM tutorial... well I received great news at the end of the day today- the hospital that I requested the preceptored clinical experience on the IVT/Infusion Therapy Clinic said yes! I am so excited! I felt it was a bit of a stretch to ask for it, but my RN Refresher Course Professor really wrote a glowing recommendation and I am so pleased with this opportunity. The clinical does not start until May- so I have time to read, study, and read some more! I read in another post of yours a recommendation for an IV Therapy manual to purchase & I will do so. I plan to do the online didactic as well for the PICC training. Hospital policy prevents me from any supervised PICC starts as a student, but I imagine I will be able to observe so many during the clinical (145 hours) that it will be a tremendous help when I am finished- if I am fortunate to secure a position on the team.

I dont want to take advantage of your time, but I certainly appreciate any guidance you can give. I am passionate about advancing my IVT skills and really making the most of this preceptored experience. I want THEM to know how serious I am and I want to sound like I know what I am talking about (and of course willing to learn.) If you have any suggestions regarding my initial discussions with the Lead IV RN Specialist, I would be most grateful! Truly your time and thoughtful responses are a gift to this forum- everyone is lucky that you are so willing to share your expertise and experience! Many thanks-

Jessamy

You did it correctly; I am new here to and just learning!

Hi I was looking around and saw your posts regarding sacramento ca... Since you've been working there for quite some time I hope you don't mind me asking a few questions... I'm in NY right now but I together w/ my family are planning to relocate to your area as soon as I get a job(all our relatives are there.) The thing is nobody calls me... Is it usually hard to get a position in sacramento? Because I read in a few posts that you need to know someone inside to get hired? Here in NY I'm not used to that... How long does it usually take? I'm sorry but I really need your input...Because now I'm having second thoughts w/the hard economy and the long process of getting a job.. I wanted to move because the cost of living is more affordable as compared here in NY,plus the salary is comparable and I hate winter here... I'm a charge RN in MS ortho floor any input will help thanks a lot!

Thank you so much for answering as I know I will be called in to talk about this tomorrow. I did not put the resident in restraints. This patient is in a SNF that is attached to the hospital by a breezeway.The patient was in a geri-chair in a reclined position with 2 belts in place...one across the chest and one across the waist....there was a long singe side rail up on each side. Since the nurse did not have a phone I communicated with her when she brought the patient in the room that I would be done in 10 minutes. I looked at the Kardex and did not see the order nor a care plan for restraints. I was just there to do the PICC care and was not taking care of the patient for the day. I also noticed that the resident stayed in the geri chair for nine long hours in front of the nursing station. I could never get the manager to tell me why she though the resident was unsafe... I think she is the type that wants to be right,rather than find a why to really communicate and solve a problem. I have seen her following nurses looking for problems. for some reason she thinks the door needs to be closed for all care...and I do not agree with this. Some patient care is just minor and you can provide privacy with curtains. I think it is OK to hang an IV bag or flush a line without closing a door. I think they have violated the law by not releasing the patient from restraints every 2 hours. Does this information help. Oh yes the patient was directly across from the station..in the first room and visible to the staff. I think her distorted thinking was that the only way for the patient to be safe was if he was wheeled in front of the nurses station and in front of the ward secretary.....but even this does not guarantee that there will always be someone present as I have found many an empty station in my carreer. I am an IV specialist by the way and often have to leave at the drop of a hat....I still never leave a pt in an unsafe condition. I

I posted a reply, but am not sure if I did it correctly...but my question is, did you put the resident in the restraints? Was the resident left alone at any time? Was there a physicians order for the restraints? Why were there three of them (Chair, waist, chest)...what did the care plan say? Were you just there to do the PICC care? What was the reason the supervisor gave for saying the resident was left "unsafe"? If nothing happened, and the resident was not injured...or nothing happened, then I don't understand the "unsafe condition?" I really don't understand the use of the three different types of restraints though....tell me more....