PICC Nurse in 2 months?

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

Hi all,

I have the opportunity to train as a "resource nurse" at my hospital (small community hospital). The position includes assisting with procedures requiring moderate sedation and assisting with cardiac stress testing (treadmill and with medication) as well as being paged for difficult IV starts and inserting PICC lines. I am interested in the position because I would like to learn the procedures and how to insert IVs using ultrasound and improve my IV skills.

However I am pretty nervous about learning PICC lines, especially as the training is only 2 months. There is an option to extend the training period as needed but I know they need someone to start ASAP. Is this a reasonable amount of time to learn to insert PICCs along with all the other requirements or does this seem dangerous? I appreciate any feedback!

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Start the training and then you will see all that is involved...but you need to go for it.Research shows it takes anywhere from 20 to 50 PICC insertions to feel comfortable and be competent.Learning anything new starts with the first step and might I add a strong commitment to the process.If you start let me suggest some good resources for you.While learning the technical skills is one thing knowing what to do about complications and other problems is another.Will their be an experienced PICC nurse to turn to for support...you need to find out.

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It really just depends on the number of piccs you'll get to put in during those 2 months. Our method of teaching is pretty much: do online training, watch 3, do 3 with someone watching, then solo depending on comfort level. My first several solo piccs I made sure someone that does them was in the building so I could have them come help if I needed it, made sure to let them know I was going to do one and for them to watch for a phone call. I feel that was sufficient "orientation" on them. Anyone who is training you should know it will take you a while to be proficient at it and should plan on continued support past the orientation period.

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Start the training and then you will see all that is involved...but you need to go for it.Research shows it takes anywhere from 20 to 50 PICC insertions to feel comfortable and be competent.Learning anything new starts with the first step and might I add a strong commitment to the process.If you start let me suggest some good resources for you.While learning the technical skills is one thing knowing what to do about complications and other problems is another.Will their be an experienced PICC nurse to turn to for support...you need to find out.

Would you mind sharing your resource suggestions with me? Things beyond insertion are where my training has lacked.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Hello,

I would say get comfortable putting in ultrasound guided PIV first, then move to PICCs. I will learning pediatric and neonatal PICC insertion in another month or so, and will first use the US for PIVs until I am comfortable with that, as that is one less thing to focus on.

You have to do so many before you go solo, so do they have another nurse that will be teaching you?

Annie

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Specializes in Vascular Access.

PICC placement is ohhh, soooo much more than a task to be performed. Yes, it may be scary, but as ILUVIVT wrote, it takes a while before you are truly comfortable with the process. And since Ultrasound is the only way these lines should be placed, it may take 6 months or more, depending on volume of pts, before you feel you have a grasp on placing them. That is okay. Ask many questions, and work with your preceptor and one day, you'll look back and wonder what you were so fearful about.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

Thank you for all the replies! Yes, there will be a (very!) experienced PICC nurse training me. She has been a PICC nurse for over 20 years and is getting ready to retire. She is very patient and will be a great person to learn from. I will take the advice above and get very proficient at US guided PIVs before even thinking about PICCs. Thanks everyone!

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Yes I will get a list of things you should review.Many will include central line guidelines and current recommendations for thrombosis and other complications.Often they are not all in one place and you have to hunt a liitle bit to get the information.I have been placing PICCs since 1989 and this has been my experience when I am looking for current information.

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Hello everyone. Off topic a bit, but I am not sure where to post. I am an RN based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. > 16 years nursing experience, inpatient and outpt, including ER. Very experienced with PIVs, no PICC insertion experience (I only access and troubleshoot..). I am very interested in PICC line insertion training. I have many questions, if someone please could be kind enough to help guide me, I will be more than grateful. Where can I get training for that? I see few options online, some are extensive for 3 months, some are for 1 day! What is credible and what is not? And where can I get a preceptor who would be willing to take me under their wing until I am confident and on my own? The place where I work is part of a big hospital but it is a toxic work environment and non-supportive (I am planning to leave once I find something else). Any guidance that is area-specific is more than appreciated. Thank you. 

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