Abstract
Intravenous therapy administration through peripheral venous catheters is one of the most common nursing procedures performed in clinical contexts. However, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) remain insufficiently used by nurses and can be considered a potential alternative for patients who need aggressive intravenous therapy and/or therapy for extended periods. The purpose of this study was to understand nurses’ perspectives about PICC implementation in their clinical practice. As part of an action-research project, three focus groups were developed in June 2019 with nineteen nurses of a cardiology ward from a Portuguese tertiary hospital. From the content analysis, two main categories emerged: ‘nursing practices’ and ‘patients’. Nurses considered PICC beneficial for their clinical practice because it facilitates maintenance care and catheter replacement rates. Moreover, nurses suggested that, since there is a need for specific skills, the constitution of vascular access teams, as recommended by international guidelines, could be an advantage. Regarding patient benefits, nurses highlighted a decrease in the number of venipunctures and also of patient discomfort, which was associated with the number of peripheral venous catheters. Infection prevention was also indicated. As an emerging medical device used among clinicians, peripherally inserted central catheters seem to be essential to clinical practice.
Highlights
As part of an action-research project, which aimed to transfer technological innovations into nursing practice, three focus groups were developed in June 2019 with the nursing team of a cardiology ward from a Portuguese tertiary hospital to explore the potential benefits of using peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) in patients requiring IV antibiotics for long periods compared to peripheral venous catheters (PVC)
The content analysis revealed different subcategories, which were grouped into two main categories concerning the adoption of PICC: ‘nurses’ practices’ and ‘patients’
PICC, as a medical device used among clinicians, nurses and physicians, seem to be an essential device to be used in hospitals
Summary
Intravenous (IV) therapy is often performed in hospital settings, mainly through peripheral venous catheters (PVC) [1,2,3,4]. Central venous catheters (CVC) are often used when patients have limited peripheral access, when long-term IV medication is needed, as well as for blood product infusions or frequent blood draws [6]. Within the CVC devices, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are claiming more attention from the scientific community. They are intravenous devices inserted through a peripheral superficial vein and introduced until the distal third part of the superior vena cava [7,8]
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