A pilot intravenous cannulation team: an Irish perspective.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Vascular Access Procedures

Background:

• Peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIVC) is a common but often distressing procedure.
• Traditionally performed by medical staff, PIVC can be resource-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led intravenous (IV) cannulation team.
• To assess the impact of a dedicated IV team on first-time cannulation success and manpower issues.

Main Methods:

• A pilot IV cannulation team of four registered nurses was established in a university hospital.
• Data on insertion attempts and success rates were collected before and after team implementation.
• Ward preferences for insertion site and routine cannula change intervals were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The study demonstrated a consistently increasing percentage of first-time cannulation success over five months.
• Analysis revealed a preference for distal site insertion and 72-hour routine changes on an orthopaedic ward.
• The IV team effectively reduced insertion attempts.

Conclusions:

• Nurse-led IV teams can perform PIVC effectively, improving success rates.
• Implementing IV teams can address manpower shortages, particularly those related to the European Working Time Directive (EWTD).