I would appreciate feedback from anyone who reads this, do you have a limit on the amount of peripheral IVs you place in a patient? I have had two patients in a two week period of time, where 3 peripheral IVs have been requested. In fact, on one of the patients, the RN wanted a 4th. Any input would be great.
Thank you,
Debbie Chiccone
I am not aware of any research supporting a maximum number of simulataneous peripheral IV sites. My first and foremost thought is that no one is assessing the patient for their infusion therapy and vascular access needs and then choosing the most appropriate VAD to meet those needs - this is a failure of your system to allow any situation such as this. Someone needs to be proactively doing this assessment and I do not think the med-surg staff nurses have the required knowledge, critical thinking, interest or time to do this. They are already overloaded with all other aspects of patient care and this aspect is failing through the cracks. This is also called vein wasting and is opposite to what the standard of care is now for vein preservation. 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
We allow two. If any further access is required another line can be placed until the vascular access nurse (me) can assess and insert an appropriate device. We also just changed our policy on sticks to two attempts, two clinicians, then technology for placement when available. Two sticks per nurse times 3 or 4 nurses is bordering on abuse. In emergent cases we can be flexible.