Picc Lines

[Anicita]

Does anyone knows if we as LPN'S can start /mantainn/discontinue a PICC line?

Thanks 

[jmgrn65, RN]

I would say no, it is a central line and usually above the antecub. It would be treated as a central line.

[MedicalLPN, LPN]

At my facility only the nursing supervisors or physicians can put a PICC line in and do the dressing change. Other than that, I pull blood off of PICC's and other central's for labs, I give IV push and PB meds. I've never pulled a PICC line before (Had a confused patient pull one out one time) and to be honest I don't know what our policy is as far as who can pull PICC lines. Hope this helps!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I work at a skilled nursing facility. If we have a patient who has an order for PICC line placement, we are to call our outside contracted pharmacy, and they'll send us a trained intravenous nurse to insert the PICC line. I, and the other LVNs at my facility, are permitted to maintain their patency, flush the PICCs per protocol, and give most IV meds through them. The RN does the PICC dressing change every 72 hours.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Only specialized RNs can insert PICCs where I work. But LPNs can maintain. I'm not sure about d/cing them though.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I would say no, it is a central line and usually above the antecub. It would be treated as a central line.

Yes indeed they are central lines even though they start in the antecub. "Peripherally inserted central catheters".

[Lorie P.]

only specialized picc trained rn's start our picc's, change the first dressing, after that lpn's can maintain, draw blood, push iv meds. only rn's can d/c them per policy.

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

Also depends on your states laws, here in Ny Its a big no-no for LPNs to administer anything thru a PICC, but my facility allows it! Does anyone know if the facility is allowed to allow something the state doesnt??

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

Tweety said:

Yes indeed they are central lines even though they start in the antecub. "Peripherally inserted central catheters".

I believe that a PICC is a central line that is inserted into any artery right??

[swee2000]

At my hospital, interventional radiologists(thus doctors) are the only ones who can place a PICC line.

On the inpatient units, only RNs can remove a PICC line w/doctor order, as well as access &/or flush a capped PICC line(or other central line, medport, etc).

The only things an LPN can do with PICCs are: 1) change the dressing; 2)replace bag of IV fluids &/or hang an IVPB medication....however, the PICC must already be accessed with fluids currently infusing.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

gt4everpn said:

I believe that a PICC is a central line that is inserted into any artery right??

Nope. It's a central line that's inserted into a peripheral vein. Antecub often in adults, in the little ones they put them in the saphenous, sometimes, if the arms have been poked a million times. Sometimes in the scalp veins, if we're desperate.

[swee2000]

Nope. It's a central line that's inserted into a peripheral vein. Antecub often in adults....

I'm not sure if I missed something during the lectures on PICCs & the veins in the arms, or if it's because the time is 3:02am and I'm still wide-awake yet should've been sleeping hours ago, but since when are PICCs inserted into the antecubital vein? I've only & always seen them above this site which, if my anatomy knowledge is still intact, would place it at the cephalic or basilic vein, right?

If I'm wrong, then please disregard this post. And thank you for clarifying regardless.