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Discussion

PICC line and normal IV access confusion

Hey.

I once put in a normal IV access (INT) and when I flushed it and tried to remove the flush, the hub cap thing came off with it. I thought you needed a new cap. The nurse told me that it's fine to put it back on. Is it because that was a new IV access? What would you do if the cap thing happened with a PICC (like a line was attached or you were flushing and it was removed), do you put a new one on then? Or is that only if you did a blood draw or it needed changing or if you were unsure where it's been?

I am so confused when you need to put a brand new one on and when it's okay to just put the cap back if you just like flush it or remove it with the line (I am always worried about infection)...*sigh* I hope one day things will become clearer, I feel like a dumb little nursing student.

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    I would ALWAYS put on a new one simply because you no longer have a sterile system if any part separates.

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    I would ALWAYS put on a new one simply because you no longer have a sterile system if any part separates.

    I second this notion! Patient safety comes first.

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    • Author

    so, I did it wrong? will the IV access get infected from it? I didn't touch where the actual hub was, just the flush and held the part where it was taped to patient.

    Also, I once changed a dressing on a central line with a preceptor, she told me to put on gloves (the clean ones from box not sterile) and hold the line in place right next to where it enters the skin while she was applying/doing the dressing change...is that okay?

    I am getting so OCD/scared about IV accesses and central lines because what I am seeing and hearing is different from the textbook way of doing it. I am just scared I'll give someone an infection before I even get out of school. :(

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    • Expert

    If nothing touched the cap when it came off, there is no reason to have to put a new one on. As for the central line dressing change, that needs to be sterile..."clean" is not acceptable. It will all come with time, don't worry:)

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