Peripheral and Central IV Maintenance Protocols

[jnrsmommy]

We have a few residents and pts at our facility w/ IVs and PICCS, but we do not have a protocol in place for the maintenance of them. I was nominated tonight to come up w/ the info for this to help implement a protocol in our facility. I know what protocols have been used in previous facilities I have worked at, but I'm wondering where is a good place for me to start getting the information in writing? I'm going to start looking when I get home (can't do it while I'm at work), just hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Thank you :)

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

What would you like to know...a lot of facilities will have a procedure and then a protocol associated with it.......where are you working in a SNF ot LTC setting? either way the standard of care is the same and you are correct to have a policy in place b/c you will still be held to the standard of care either way so it essential you have these in place//INS publishes their standards every few years but you will need to pay to get a copy..so if you will just tell me what you are interested in I can tell you what the SOC is

[jnrsmommy]

Thank you for your response :) I'm specifically looking for flushes (types, amounts, frequency), IV tubing changes, dressing changes to the sites, that kind of stuff.

I do work in LTC/Skilled Rehab, and tore the place up looking for the policy I was told that we have. No where to be found. Someone did get a copy of a local hospital's policy, and were wanting to go from that. One of the things that gave me pause was "flush PICC w/ 2cc NS" Last time I checked, 2cc was not going to cut it, but it's been a while since I checked w/ INS on info.

I just want something in black and white that I can go to my DON and say "here's the information we need to put this policy in place."

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Sure I can tell what there guidelines say...when I get home I will list them for you and give you some examples on how to write them