Picc lines

[jacobsmom]

I am wondering if LPNS with no experiance in PICC lines can be told they have to do it?I work in a private setting and the director is telling us we have a patient coming in a day or two-We have a LPN in charge each shift and sometimes a TMA- one RN only works mon-fri -the PT. needs antibiotics with syringe into port I guess but we are not getting any prior training I guess they plan to show one nurse and then show each nurse shift to shift...help thanks

I love learning new things but with the proper training and comfort level.thanks

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The LPN/LVN scope of practice regarding PICC lines is dependent upon the state in which you practice nursing. In addition, you need to be IV-certified in your state. I am in Texas, a state that has an extremely wide LVN scope of practice with PICCs. I am allowed to flush them and push IV meds, as well as change the dressings. You'll need to check your state's nurse practice act for your final answer.

[rehab nurse]

hi there,

some states are more restrictive than others

for LPNs, but my first reply will be to tell you to try looking at your states nurse practice act.

i know where i lived (prior) in another state, we were not allowed to touch any type of central line, including PICCS, and we also had to be IV certified. they had lots of courses in nursing homes and hospitals to train the lpns, though it usually only comprised of an RN educating you about different things.

where i work, PICCs and also to a lesser extent regular central and jugular lines, are accessed by LPNs. lots of people who come in for 6 week or longer abt (lots of vanco and MRSA) treatment.

is there a pharmacy rep or whoever is in charge of your inservice/education department able to help you and your fellow nurses learn more about these types of lines, and what you flush them with? there should also be a policy and procedure about how often to flush the lines, with what solutions, and how often we do the dresssings, and who is able to do them.

if you want more help, i would be happy to send you what i have available on my computer about these types of lines and their care. i had it for school. (i'm an lpn for 10 years about to graduate with my RN).

good luck to you, and also some words of advice for you: don't do anything you haven't been trained to do or that you don't feel comfortable with! it's your employer's responsibility to educate you about things you have to do in your job/as a part of your job. but also, for your own knowledge, know your nurse practice act and what is allowed in your state! there is a list of the websites for all the nation's boards of nursing on this site.

hope this helps a little bit.

[NOBLE TARA RN]

I am posting first time to this forum I am a RN and we deal a lot with Picc line in place where I work. We flush piccline with 10cc normal saline and 3cc heparin to keep patency regularly.

we use SASH method which is flush 1occ saline then antibiotic then 10cc saline and 3cc heparin if resident are receiving antibiotic.

Major problem I am experiencing is what we exactly look for in catheter when when we remove piccline cath. Most of my patient had a tip at the end and lately I didn't see the tip when we removed the picc. I had to get CxR done to rule out if there was possible dislodgement of cath tip . CXR was negative . Thanks to God !

IS anybody up here works with picc line insertion team will add something to help me understand why they been cutting picc cath tip out ? I am curious