Development and Implementation of an Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Education Program for Critical...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Vascular Access Procedures
• Ultrasound Technology in Medicine

Background:

• Ultrasound-guided (US-guided) peripheral intravenous (PIV) insertion is a specialized nursing skill for patients with difficult vascular access.
• Potential complications include thrombus, phlebitis, infiltration, and pain, which can be mitigated through comprehensive clinical training.
• Effective training involves didactic instruction, hands-on practice, and skills application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement an educational program for critical care nurses focused on US-guided PIV insertion.
• To enhance the competency of critical care nurses in performing US-guided PIV procedures.
• To establish a sustainable training model within an intensive care unit (ICU) setting.

Main Methods:

• A structured, step-wise educational program was developed by critical care nurse practitioners.
• Training materials included didactic content, hands-on practice, ultrasound reference guides, and supervised skills application.
• Trained nurses were empowered to train their colleagues, creating a train-the-trainer model within the ICU.

Main Results:

• The proportion of trained registered nurses in the ICU increased significantly, with specialized training reaching night and weekend staff.
• A total of 105 US-guided PIV insertions demonstrated a 97% success rate over 11 months, comparable to published literature.
• The complication rate for occlusive thrombus was 1.9%, which is lower than reported rates in existing studies.

Conclusions:

• The developed US-guided PIV training program was successfully implemented through collaboration between critical care nurse practitioners, vascular nursing, and hospital education departments.
• The program achieved success and complication rates consistent with findings in current medical literature.
• Continuous training is crucial for maintaining the program's effectiveness and ensuring ongoing competency in US-guided PIV insertion.