PICC Nurses: How long did it take you to become proficient

I've been wanting to transition into this field for a while! I got a job doing peripheral IVs and will be training and shadowing a nurse to learn PICC insertions. The training won't happen for a month.

Question 1: What can I do in the meantime to prepare me for the training

Question 2: How long (or how many inserts) did it take for you to become proficient

Question 3: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were training or in your first few months

Thanks!!!!

[piccme]

When I first started doing picc's I wish someone would have told me to insert the wire slowly. It won't get hung up that way.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

What brand of PICC will you be using????? I can answer all your questions but would like to know that answer first so I can advice you!!! OK

[zahryia, LPN]

What brand of PICC will you be using????? I can answer all your questions but would like to know that answer first so I can advice you!!! OK

Hmm, I don't know, but as soon as I find out I'll let you know. Thanks!!!

[accessqueen]

I make the nurses I precept take a tray home and practice setting up for the PICC insertion. I tell them to memorize the tray and repeat setting up until they can do it automatically. I tell them to even use a pretend arm so they get a feel for the insertion porocedure. The set up is the most time consuming, and the most confusing, because if you forget a step, you may have to break sterile technique, unglove, reglove, and increase chance of infection. Also, the more proficient you are at set up and knowing yor tray and equipment, the more confident and efficient you will appear to the patient. THen you can concentrate on learning how to access the vein.

[zahryia, LPN]

I make the nurses I precept take a tray home and practice setting up for the PICC insertion. I tell them to memorize the tray and repeat setting up until they can do it automatically. I tell them to even use a pretend arm so they get a feel for the insertion porocedure. The set up is the most time consuming, and the most confusing, because if you forget a step, you may have to break sterile technique, unglove, reglove, and increase chance of infection. Also, the more proficient you are at set up and knowing yor tray and equipment, the more confident and efficient you will appear to the patient. THen you can concentrate on learning how to access the vein.

Thank you so much! This is a great idea!

[zahryia, LPN]

What brand of PICC will you be using????? I can answer all your questions but would like to know that answer first so I can advice you!!! OK

Mostly BD, but there are times when we use Bard.