Line Changes

Specialties NICU

Published

  1. Clean or Sterile for line changes?

    • 2
      Clean
    • 7
      Sterile
    • 0
      Something else

9 members have participated

Specializes in NICU.

I am a new grad and had the great fortune to be hired into a level 3 NICU. I have finished my class based orientation and am starting my preceptored shifts this week.

During our orientation I learned that our unit does sterile line changes. Essentially any PIV or Central Line is changed under sterile conditions. We have a 2 nurse system to put together the new lines and then it takes 2 nurses to get those lines connected to the infant. The level 2 NICU where I did my pre-grad consolidation didn't follow this practice so I'm wondering how common it is.

So - do your units change lines under clean or sterile conditions?

Thanks!

Specializes in NICU.

clean for peripheral lines and sterile for central lines

sterile for central, clean for PIV

Specializes in NICU.

My unit (level IV) does sterile IV tubing changes for both PIV and central lines, same as your unit from the sound of it. It's a bit of an involved process, but it gets easier with time.

Oh, and congratulations on your NICU job!

Specializes in NICU.

Thanks for all the feedback! Looks like the poll splits us 50/50. Glad to know it's not just us. I was going to ask the educators on my next set in whether I had misunderstood in training!

I definitely hope it will get faster, right now I feel like a turtle swimming through molasses could do it faster than I can :(

(And thanks Missie Hannie - it's been fascinating so far - and a little nerve wracking but I will eventually settle in)

Specializes in NICU.

We do 2 RN sterile central line changes. We just started doing it this way about 3 years ago and have see a decline in line infections

Sterile line changes for our CVLs and UVCs, evidenced based practice for the last 5 years, dramatic decrease in CONS and other line sepsis organisms. Clean for PIVs but with strict clean hub technique. Level 3 tertiary centre.

Specializes in School Nursing.

2 person sterile for CVL. Clean for PIVs. I work in a Lvl III

Our central line changes are allegedly sterile, but since it's not a two-person system, it's really half-sterile, half-clean.

Specializes in NICU.

I've just started my first job in a level IV NICU, but we do sterile tubing changes for both centrals and PIVs. Have only observed so far, but I have a training on it next week. Seems a bit complicated compared to other skills I've done, but hopefully I'll get the hang of it!

PIV - clean.

Central and umbilical lines - We verify orders with two nurses, then only one nurse hangs the new fluids. But always sterile.

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