Published Feb 1, 2014
Hugurqh
3 Posts
I am a cna and have been at my hospital for 2 yrs now. Last week my Lpn told me to pull an Iv, when I got in the room I realized it wasn't an Iv but an upper arm sheath cath. Having never seen one I asked my Lpn if I wa able to pull it, she stated I was. Still being unsure I asked my rn who also said to go pull it. Later I was talking to another nurse who said I was absolutely not suppose to remove those. It don't bleed anymore than a reg Iv site, but I'm worried I'm going to get in trouble even though I was told by the nurse. Should I be worried?
a cna
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
20,908 Posts
Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!
This may depend on your facility policy. You need to look it up. However that is called a PICC line and everywhere I have worked the nurse is the one to discontinue these lines.
Only registered nurses have the qualifications to care for or remove a PICC line from a patient - See more at: PICC*Line Removal |*How to Remove a PICC Line | Clinical Nursing Skills
Well this was smaller(shorter) than a pic line. I'm wondering would it fall back on me if I was unaware I wasn't suppose to do t, after being ordered by the nurse to do it
Kamilah Coney, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN
214 Posts
As far as I know, discontinuation of IV's should not be delegated to Certified Nursing Assistants.
msjellybean
277 Posts
This is facility specific. My hospital allows our techs do d/c PIVs, provided they show us the catheter before disposing of it. Since that rarely ever happens, most RNs d/c their own lines.
FineAgain
372 Posts
If this was a sheath cath, put in to administer TpA directly to the subclavian, only an RN or MD can pull those. Likewise PICC lines because of infection risk.
Biffbradford
1,097 Posts
I interviewed in a 600+ bed hospital unit where the CNAs were pulling femoral sheaths. Well, sure, pulling the sheath is a snap ... recognizing and managing the complications may not be. The RN was within ear shot in the hallway, but I didn't want any part of that scene.
RNGriffin
375 Posts
I wouldn't allow my techs to discontinue my Peripheral inserted IVs unless I have worked with this tech for years upon years upon years( you get the point). Anything above the AC, absolutely not! These lines require a much more thorough assessment once d/c'd and should have more detailed documentation for the risk of hemorrhage, infection, etc. Some techs have such an increased workload, I wouldn't delegate anything he/she does not have the authority to document.
I have seen techs managing IVs, starting IVs, drawing labs, managing femoral caths, etc. within my time....These aren't my patients, but I raise eyebrows for patient safety.
I would LOVE to work in that facility. Here I am a Licensed Practical Nurse with an intravenous certification and the RN's that I work along side with wouldn't let me flush an IV with saline, let alone D/C one.
Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP
1,004 Posts
I interned on a floor that would let specially trained cardiac techs pull sheaths, but only with an RN in the room for the first 10 minutes of holding pressure. Then the RN could leave and the tech would hold pressure for the remaining 20 minutes. These were fem art sheaths from cardiac caths. And obviously, these were very specially trained and yearly competencied techs.
Sun0408, ASN, RN
1,761 Posts
Could it have been a midline IV?? Either way, if I didn't know what it was, I would not have removed it as a CNA, LPN or RN without clarification.
Cal-Neva
39 Posts
That is tough to be put in that position, especially if unit politics are involved. When in doubt go with the gut. Where I have worked CNAs and Techs were no allowed to remove invasive devices, that was the RNs job, but it sounds like this isn't universal, so I would check with your manager or Educator.