Status of nursing quality and management about intravenous therapy in Class II and above hospitals of Hu'nan Province

Abstract

Objective To investigate the current situation of intravenous therapy in 38 ClassⅡ and above hospitals in Hu'nan Province and analyze the existing problems. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted in 38 hospitals in Hu'nan Province in November 2018 using the Nursing Situation of Intravenous Therapy in Hospitals at All Levels designed by the Professional Committee of Intravenous Therapy and Chinese Nursing Association. To understand the status quo of intravenous therapy, quality management of intravenous therapy, and the status of specialist nurses in intravenous therapy. Results In 38 hospitals, totally 36 hospitals provided continuous intravenous therapy services through intravenous therapy/peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) clinics and a designated hospital department; 21 hospitals had established intravenous therapy/PICC clinics; the outpatient service was flexible in form, but the qualification certification of outpatient nurses needed further regulation. The proportion of hospitals carrying out medium and long-term catheter infusion and hospitals carrying out PICC transfusion with Modified Sedinger Technique (MST) puncture guided by ultrasound was 100.00% and 72.22%, respectively. In vascular visualization technology, hospitals using infrared, ultrasound and X-ray technology were 2.63%, 63.16% and 34.21% respectively. There were some gaps in the skin disinfectant and disinfection scope, concentration of flushing and sealing fluid and maintenance frequency between the hospitals and the national standards in peripheral and central venipuncture and catheter maintenance. In terms of quality management of intravenous therapy, 34 hospitals had established intravenous therapy teams, whose quality evaluation criteria are different. In terms of specialist nurses team construction, there were 505 specialist nurses in venous therapy/PICC in 38 hospitals. The structure of specialist nurses had been continuously optimized in terms of education, title and length of service. However, hospitals needed to pay more attention to the development of specialist nurses. Conclusions The contents of continuous nursing of intravenous therapy need to be further expanded, the management of PICC clinic needs to be strengthened, the standardized use of infusion devices and connectors needs to be improved, the knowledge and practice gap between puncture nursing and catheter maintenance of intravenous therapy exists, and the quality control standards of hospitals need to be standardized and regulated, more attention should be paid to the development of specialist nurses. Key words: Intravenous therapy; Quality management; Specialist clinic; Specialist nurse; PICC