Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 31, 2025
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
Outcomes of a Pediatric Ultrasound-Guided Short Peripheral Catheter Training Program and Hands-On Poultry Simulation
Christina Russell1,2,3,4,5,6, Kathleen Mullaney1,2,3,4,5,6, Tracy Campbell1,2,3,4,5,6
1Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware (Mss Russell, Mullaney, and Campbell, and Drs Sabado and Haut); Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Mss Mullaney and Campbell); Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Dr Sabado).
Abstract:
Ultrasound guidance is an effective technique for obtaining short peripheral catheter (SPC) access but requires training and practice for proficiency. The aim of this quality improvement initiative was to develop and assess a formal training program to increase the confidence and competency of intravenous (IV) therapy nurses in the placement of ultrasound-guided SPCs. IV therapy nurses completed a didactic and hands-on training course where they practiced ultrasound-guided SPC placement techniques on a poultry phantom during simulation, followed by performing ultrasound-guided SPC insertion on patients proctored by an interventional radiology physician. Data collection included preintervention and postintervention confidence self-assessment, frequency tracker, Difficult Intravenous Access (DIVA) scale scores, and total number of ultrasound-guided SPCs placed by the nurses. Ultrasound-guided SPC placement increased significantly after the training program. The IV therapy nurses placed 29 ultrasound-guided SPCs in 2017, 391 ultrasound-guided SPCs in 2018, and 711 ultrasound-guided SPCs in 2019. Mean DIVA scores rose from 4.54 in May 2018 to 5.17 in July 2018, indicating success in placing SPCs in more difficult patients. Implementation of an ultrasound-guided SPC placement program using poultry phantom simulation is a recommended nursing resource for increasing competency in ultrasound-guided SPC placement in pediatric patients.
