Increasing nurse competence in peripheral intravenous therapy

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Vascular Access

Background:

• Infiltration and phlebitis are frequent complications of peripherally inserted vascular (PIV) therapy.
• Effective PIV site assessment and management are crucial for patient safety.
• Existing knowledge gaps among nursing staff may contribute to these complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a competency-based training module in enhancing nursing knowledge of PIV infiltration and phlebitis.
• To assess the impact of improved nursing knowledge on the incidence of PIV-related complications.

Main Methods:

• A performance improvement plan was implemented, incorporating a pretest, a training module, and a posttest.
• Nursing staff knowledge regarding PIV complications was assessed before and after the intervention.
• Data on infiltration and phlebitis rates were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• The postintervention assessment demonstrated a significant improvement in nursing knowledge.
• A 50% reduction in the incidence of infiltration and phlebitis was observed following the training.
• The study confirmed a direct correlation between enhanced nursing knowledge and reduced complication rates.

Conclusions:

• Competency-based education is effective in improving nursing knowledge related to PIV therapy complications.
• Annual education and skills assessment for PIV site evaluation can lead to practice changes.
• Implementing targeted training programs can significantly enhance patient safety by reducing PIV-related complications.