Does anyone apply identification labels to the hubs of their venous access devices in order to make the nurses aware of what type of line they are getting ready to connect to? We are in the process of updating protocols and this question as been brought up as a possible solution to help prevent healthcare staff from accessing /infusing medications thru an incorrect line. If so, does anyone know of any research on this subject?
One label, one note on the wall or door or one the patient will never be sufficient to ensure that nurses do not make this mistake. It takes these notes and reminders in all places. I do not know of any research on this issue but having a midline used for only fluids that should go through a PICC is a freqeunt problem. 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
I personally agree that hubs/lines should be labeled. I just ran into this recently in our facility. I was asked to instill cathflo in a pt, because the LPN said his PICC line was occluded and two other RN's had tried to access it and were unsuccessful. I didn't think anything of it, got all my stuff together, go in the room and he just has a single port in his upper arm. I thought that was a bit weird. So I went digging through the chart and in the waaaaaay back I found a report from the PICC nurse that said she had to place a midline because she couldn't thread the PICC. I could have been in serious trouble for that, but how do people know just by glancing at a line in the upper arm what it really is. We get patients from many hospitals with different products. I wish in all IV kits there were already attached labels to the tubing. PICC, tunneled PICC, groshong, INT, etc.....they all need clearly labeled!
I have labels that clip on the tubing for piccs and midlines. Art-lines and dialysis lines are soon to be released. All of these are similar size as shape but are completely different colors and graphics to distinguish one from another. They are made of soft material and I have prep resistant markers for writing that will last through any cleaning fluid.
As Lynn stated, I agree you need multiple sites of communicatin....these just serve as one that is directly on the device and does a good job of getting the care-givers attention. Wall posters get lost, wristbands get removed on discharge, dressing labels don't always get replicated.... These tags are on the device and go with the patient. I truly believe they are the best communicatin tool to alert caregivers to the basic device information.
You can contact me if you would like more information.
[email protected]
Kevin Arnold RN, MSN