pt with own admission of recent ivdu within 30days admission to hospital . need iv antibiocs therapy for 30 days or more . does rn have the right to refuse picc line on legal , ethical, pt can get treatment with hl placed . dr. can refuse to order picc for above reason what about the rn?
We have an obligation to treat the patients infection. What I have seen done in these cases was admission to nursing home until antibiotics complete and PICC removed so that appropriate use of PICC could be monitored.
Rose Galyan RN, BSN, CRNI
Speciality Practice Nurse
Vascular Access Team
Indiana University Hospital Bloomington
[email protected]
I agree that you can not abandon the patient based upon your judgment of their past actions. There are ways to deal with this such as a contracted situation between the home care company and patient or a controlled setting such as the nursing home or an infusion clinic. If the patient is determined to inject illicit drugs, you cannot control that, but you can not refuse to treat the infection. This does not have to be done with a PICC. What is the ABX? It would be an ethical challenge in my opinion to use a short peripheral catheter for extended courses of therapy and that could also be used for injection by the patient as well. 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