IV catheter changes..

[RNnewbie2014]

I was asked 2 days ago at my job if my school had stressed changing peripheral IVs every 96 hours.. I do not recall this being emphasized... What is the EBP about this? I mean of course I know if a patient is experiencing infiltration or phlebitis, I am going to change it... But other than that I was JW is there hard evidence that changing a peripheral IV every 96 hours is appropriate?

[VANurse2010]

There isn't EBP about this. It's an old school guideline.

[MunoRN, RN]

That used to be the recommendation but not any more. The current recommendation is to change sites based on assessment of the site, not on any time frame.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

When I worked in the hospital (pediatrics) it used to be policy that peripheral IVs had to be changed q 7 days. In the adult world I know it was q 96 hours. But that changed several years ago and as long as the IV was functioning, it could stay in indefinitely. The longest I saw an IV stay in was 10 days, I think.

[nurse4ever08]

Most places require it unless orders obtained to keep current IV

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Most places require it unless orders obtained to keep current IV

Where are these "most places"? Both my current and former employer do NOT require it and the standard is to keep the IV as long as it is functioning.

[RNnewbie2014]

I was just curious because older nurse said something to me about it.. Said your a new grad, what did they teach you in school? He seemed quite appalled that it was not emphasized to change the IV every 96 hours which makes me look like I'm completely incompetent for not knowing this rule!! This person actually changes his IVs every 96 hours..

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Said your a new grad, what did they teach you in school? He seemed quite appalled that it was not emphasized to change the IV every 96 hours which makes me look like I'm completely incompetent for not knowing this rule!!

One thing you will encounter quite frequently is experienced nurses who go by old guidelines and do not change their practice (some out of stubbornness, some because policies change without them knowing, some because the go with a more conservative older policy rather than an EBP new policy)--I am guilty of it at times too…we all are. Another example, some nurses insist on checking the Foley balloon before catheter insertion, even though the policy no longer calls for that.

BTW, there is no policy at my hospital for the timeframe for IVs to be removed.

[MunoRN, RN]

Even though he's giving you bad information, even that it is a valuable learning experience for you; keep up to date on the evidence and recommendations, understand them, and never consider anything to be set-in-stone.

[T-Bird78]

I was taught no more than 5 days, but as a pt with an IV in the back of my hand for 4 days I can tell you how bad it was. My hand was 3 times its normal size from the fluids going in for so long.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

Our policy is 96 hours then the IV team has to officially reassess the site and initial it as an okay for it to be used longer. Of course whomever is assigned to the patient should be assessing the site for complications as well, but IV has the final say on continuing the site or placing a new one. I've had a couple of patients with week long or older IVs which are infusing just fine, and brand new sites which infiltrate within a few hours. Depends on the patient.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

We don't do this anymore at my facility. They stay in as long as they are useable, free from redness, and aren't bothering the patient.