Hello,
Posing this question to get feedback about what other community hospitals~~approximately 100 bed--do to cover PICC orders that come up on the weekend? Currently, we have 2 full time nurses that run the IV/PICC Team---one on dayshift--and one on evening shift--covering 0700-2300. Since March we have been designated to cover oncall for weekend PICC orders. I'm looking for creative solutions, suggestions and generally what other vascular access nurses are doing to cover weekend orders.
We are a team of three and cover the weekends from 7 to 3 only on call for emergent PICCs only. Because we're in peds, PICCs required sooner than later may require a trip to the OR if pt is in need of sedation because we have no sedation service on weekends at this time. When we are called we evaluate as best we can over the phone the urgency of the PICC and proceed accordingly. Each member then is on call every third weekend. We are approx a 300 bed facility, however and not a comunity hospital.
We are a 200 + community hospital. We are on-call for weekends and holidays 7am to 12 noon for PICC/midline placements. If central access is needed outside those hours then a surgical consult is placed or it waits until the next day.
Out of curiosity how many are on your team? There is only 2 of us so that puts us on call every other weekend-----from 7a-7pm. We were using an outside contractor who suddenly pulled out of our area back in March. Like I say, just getting a feel for what others are doing. Appreciate the input.
I am the only PICC nurse at our 107 bed community hospital. I work Monday through Friday 9 am until the work is done. I used to come in earlier but the picc orders seem to come in later and later so that way I stay till about anywhere from5-8 pm , I certainly have stayed later. Then come in the next day and do it all over again. I also do all the line care and maintenance.
Regarding weekends, holidays and after hours. I am not on call. They continue with Iv efforts till I return in morning, or ext juglar by ER md, or consult for central line. But....since I always stay late and finish the day it doesnt seem to be much of a problem until I go on vacation. At this point Administration does not want weekend or afterhour coverage for an assortment of reasons.
Gina Ward R.N., VA-BC
So Gina---you strictly do PICCS and central line maintenance it sounds like. We also do 80-some percent of all the IVs in the hospital. The other nurse and I work full-time hours---so, as you might guess, being on call every other weekend has not made us happy campers lately. Many of our hospitalists have had minimal training with CVC insertions so that's also part of the dilemma.