Clinical audit documenting insertion date of peripheral intravenous cannulae

The Royal College Of Nursing (RCN) have evidence-based guidelines with regard to optimal time for changing peripheral intravenous cannulae (PIC) and documentation post-insertion (patient and nursing notes). This clinical audit assesses the compliance with respect to the RCN and Eastbourne District General Hospital guidelines of documenting the date post-insertion of PIC, optimal time for changing cannulae and rates of superficial phlebitis on the surgical wards. All PIC, their dressings, sites and intravenous infusions were examined on all inpatients on the surgical wards on three random days. Staff awareness with regard to RCN and local guidelines for optimal time to change peripheral venous cannulae and documentation post-insertion was assessed. The majority of staff nurses correctly stated that the optimal time for changing an uncomplicated PIC was 72 hours, despite this 13.8% had a cannulae which had been inserted for more than 72 hours. Our study has found that despite medical and nursing staff being aware of RCN and local guidelines, there is still poor compliance with regards to documentation, optimal time for changing and thus increased levels of superficial phlebitis post insertion of PIC.