Pharmacy protocal for central lines.

Do any of you have a pharmacy protocal that you institute when a new PICC or Central line is inserted? I'm looking for one that would show the dressing change is needed, when flush is do and how much. Anything will help. We are having problems getting our central line dressings changed and we feel we need to give ownership of it to someone so it won't fall by the wayside. A scheduled time for the dressing and a place where a nurse can document.

Would sure appreciate your help.

Mary

"In moments of joy all of us wished we had a tail we could wag".

Institutions should follow guidelines put out by the CDC and the intravenous nursing society(INS)

The basic recommendations are dressings to be changed 24 hours after insertion, and every 7 days and prn. (if using tegaderm and no gauze)

If gauze dressings are used then the dressing must be changed every 48 hours. Caps are also to be changed weekly as well.

As far a flushing protocol, it is dependant on the type of catheter. PICC's should always be flushed using a 10 cc syringe using turbulent flush method. For open-ended catheters heparin is recommended 250 units in adult patient is about the norm. But each institution sets their own guidelines.

Hope this helps!