We use Bard piccs. Measurements on the line are 0....5....10 etc. Do you count the 0 mark as the first cm? Example- Picc is at 5 at insertion site. Do you document picc is out 5cm from the insertion site or 6 cm from the insertion site?
Hope that makes sense....thanks!
Your question makes perfect sense. We'll see how others measure, I personally consider the first segment of the catheter from hub to the "0" mark as a part of the hub. That's how I was taught and how I remember.
Any segment of the catherer that is designed for placement inside the vein is known as the effective catheter length. So if 5 cm is sitting at the insertion site, then that would mean that 5 cm is external. But remember that if you were to change brands, these smaller numbers may be on the internal side and what you see on the outside is the higher numbers. Totally confusing but no standard requirements for labeling a catheter. I would establish your internal method and education everyone to make sure that they are all measuring and recording the same way. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
At my facility, we use the marking as is. If it were sitting at the 0 mark at the insertion site, it would be 0 out. The 5cm marking is 5 out. We do not count the space between the hub and the 0 marking.