PICC certification?

Just before covid hit, my hospital partnered with Bard Access Systems and I had the lucky opportunity to do their PICC paid training program (maybe a month long if I recall). I heard that it was several thousands to do a PICC training program with certification. Vascular Wellness offers 4 day course of didactic + 3 days precepting for $4000. I have no clue if this is a reputable certification company, I just Googled to see what pricing might be like if you were to get a PICC certification course on your own. I'd definitely look around your area for any contracting companies that do mobile PICCs and see if they offer any PICC courses and/or hiring. Vic the PICC is a common contracting company here in Southern California that sends PICCs nurses to manage and start PICC lines on the patients at some of the SNFs I round at.

Hi OP,

I too am a medic turned nurse, although I would jump back on the truck full time in a heartbeat if there were more opportunities for single role Paramedics in municipalities around here!   I did ER nursing for 7 years, got totally burnt out from all the psych patients (not for me), and have been doing vascular access for about 10 years.  

Anyway, It will be probably impossible to get PICC certified through a hospital without working full time, as the  initial training can be expensive, and hospitals don't spend money like that without a commitment from your end.  Some hospitals won't even pay for the training unless you are on the team for at least a year full time first.   I do know in my area some home vascular access services will get you certified in PICC placement, but again, probably not unless you are committing to a full time schedule.  I do not recommend doing home insertions when you are brand new to placing PICCs unless they offer significant oversight for several placements.   

Is it possible you could work full time on an IV/Vascular access team for a year or so just to get some experience and training?  If not, you could try getting a per diem job on an IV team and paying for PICC Excellence yourself (that is an online vascular access training platform that covers the didactic portion of PICC certification), and see if they will let you do PICCs after that, as a per diem.  I do believe PICC excellence also offers in person hands on teaching as well. 

Best of luck, and feel free to reach out if you have more questions. 

- Annie