On call PICC nurse? Does such a thing exist?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm currently a nurse in interventional radiology. We place picc lines (however the institution that I'm in currently does not let nurses do picc lines)

I want to get certified in PICC line insertion. I was told by a coworker from my old job that there are nurses that are on call for PICC line insertion. (For example for nursing homes)

How do I find out if such a job exists..(i'm in brooklyn NY) .I'd love to do this in my spare time... any info would be much appreciated.

Critterlover...I emailed the angiodynamics (who we use for PICC lines at my job) rep and awaiting his response regarding certification....I'll see what he/she sais (i'll also email Bard...we use some of their PICSS as well) if I can get some of these companies to pay for my certification I'll do it and then try to advertise myself... what do you think? My only fear is that once I get certified I wont have enought experience to just walk into homes and insert piccs...

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

The hospital that I work for has a contract with a PICC line company. Right now it's with "All About Staffing" and used to be with "Lee Medical". Maybe you could check to see if another local hospital may have a contract with a PICC line company? Then contact that PICC line company to see if you can get on PRN. I'd be willing to bet you could. We call them everyday between 6a and 10p. Qualified nurses in the hospital cannot insert PICC lines due to the contract.

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

I don't know much about it, but in our hospital we have an outpatient infusion therapy center and 2 of the nurses who work in there are PICC-certified, so they usually start the PICC lines in the hospital, along with Radiology.

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Specializes in infusion.
that is my current job, though i'm leaving it soon.

[color=#483d8b]i work m-f for a pharmacy. i place piccs in an outpatient center, in nursing homes, rehab facilities, in the home for home-bound patients, and in a small hospital.

[color=#483d8b]i would highly suggest that you get some solid in-patient picc placement experience before you go out and place them on an on-call basis for nursing homes, etc. those are the toughest patients to get piccs into (due to comorbidiites such as renal insufficiency, pvd, diabetes, long-standing htn, etc), and the facility will have to pay your company even if you don't get the picc in. too many unsuccessful attempts, and they won't be too eager to use your company again in the future.

[color=#483d8b]remember, you will be working blind, without the benefit of fluro. i do all of my piccs without fluro, and my success rate is somewhere around 96-98% for getting the picc into the svc. (we don't place midlines or midclaviculars, though midlines may be an option wherever you end up working.) however, that came with much practice. in the begining, i was only able to get about 1/2 in that i attempted. best to learn in a controlled environment, with radiology nearby, so that any unsuccessful attempt doesn't cause too much trouble. (what i mean by this is that in a nursing home, if you can't get the picc in, they then have to schedule the patient in some facility's ir dept, then schedule an ambulace to take the patient/pick the patient up, and pay for all of it. a real pain the the butt, and it can take several days, if not a week to get all of that scheduled. while in the hospital, it is merely an order to ir, and trasportation takes the pt down. shouldn't take more than a day or so, if that)

[color=#483d8b]good luck. i'm told that a "roving picc company" is a good business for a nursing entrepreneurs. too bad i have zero business sense :) .

just wondering. you dont have fluoro but do you utilize a portable ultrasound to assist with vein location??

southern picc nurse.

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you'd have to... I dont see how else you can find the basillic vein otherwise....

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Our hospice uses a on-call PICC nurse, who places the most wonderful PICC lines I have ever used. Mobile x-ray comes to verify placement before use, just as in the hospital. I love our PICC nurse!

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Specializes in infusion.
you'd have to... I dont see how else you can find the basillic vein otherwise....

WE actually placed piccs successfully in the basilic vein for many years before we got our ultrasound machine 8 months ago. We place 130/month.

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