Evaluation of Indicators of a Vascular Access Device Program led by Nursing Professionals in a High-complexity University Hospital in Colombia.
Olga L Cortés, Yeris M Parra, Daniela A Torres and 4 others
PMID 35485625WHAT IT FOUND
In a nursing-led vascular access program, first-attempt success was 65.7% and infection rates were low, but PICC dwell time exceeded standards.
The program showed safe practice but highlighted delays in referral and catheter maintenance.
Key findings
01The nursing-led vascular access team achieved a first-puncture success rate of 65.7% across 1,210 catheter insertions.
02The catheter-related infection rate for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) was 1.9 per 1,000 catheter-days.
03PICC duration averaged 25.3 days, which was prolonged compared to the expected standard of 7.3 to 16.6 days.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is single-center and retrospective, limiting generalizability to other hospitals. It did not evaluate all relevant indicators, such as hand hygiene compliance or specific dressing types. The sample excluded patients treated in units where catheters were inserted independently, potentially missing a portion of the hospital's vascular access practice. As a descriptive study without a control group, it cannot prove that the nursing-led program caused the observed outcomes compared to other models.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the 65.7% first-puncture success rate or the low infection rates as proof that this specific program model is superior to others, as there was no comparison group and the study design was descriptive.