Picc Line question?

[AussieKylie]

Hi there

I would like to understand the format/procedure for when assisting patients with a Picc Line and requires continuous infusion to prevent occlusion via Infusion Pump and requires assistance to remove clothing prior to shower and vice versa. I understand that the IV line cannot be disconnected from PICC line port, I am just wondering what is required prior to threading IV Bag through patients clothing that we need to do to Infusion Pump. I mean do we stop infusion pump for a few seconds to thread line through clothing? If anyone can help me out I will be happy because I did know this however when away from it, I do forget.

Thanks

[WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN]

I have never had a PICC line that i was not able to disconnect from the IV tubing to let the patient undress/redress. As long as you have an alcohol wipe to clean the port with and a saline flush to flush the line with before you reconnect it to the tubing, you are ok. SOmetimes you need a heparin flush to go along with it, but that's only if the doctors order it that way, or it's your hospital policy. As far as disconnecting it for showering purporses, it depends on what is infusing if I would let them disconnect to shower, or ask them to wait for the infusion to be over.