Nurses' knowledge and experiences of peripheral intravenous catheter insertion at a tertiary paediatric health centre

The aim of the study was to determine paediatric nurses' knowledge and experiences of PIVC insertion.

In this cross-sectional study, nurses working in a paediatric hospital in Izmir, Türkiye, between May and September 2019 were included (225; 67.4%). A PIVC knowledge and experience form, and a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire were used to collect data.

Nurses most often inserted the PIVC on the dorsum of the hand (83.1%). Their choice of vein was influenced by the condition of the patient's veins (91.1%), medications (72%) and the patient's activity status (70.2%). The most preferred PIVC size was 24 gauge (98.2%), and the most frequently used cannula was a short peripheral cannula (96.9%). To clean the insertion site of the cannula, 93.8% of the nurses used 70% alcohol. Distractions used while inserting the PIVC were: letting the child play with a toy (51.1%), having the child sit on the mother's lap (45.8%), letting the child watch cartoons (45.3%), and administering oral sucrose (43.6%). Of the nurses, 69.3% attached a split septum/vein valve to the PIVC insertion site, and 82.2% cleaned the split septum/vein valve with 70% alcohol and waited until it dried before administering the medication. Some 79.6% secured the cannula with a hypoallergenic nonwoven adhesive fixation tape bandage. Some 94.7% performed catheter flushing for control after inserting PIVCs, 93.8% performed catheter flushing before IV fluid treatment, 89.8% flushed the catheter before drug administration through the bolus method, 53.3% flushed the PIVC catheter with a slow technique and 42.2% flushed it with an intermittent technique.

The nurses generally acted in accordance with Infusion Nurses Society (2016) guidance. It would be helpful if the hospital developed algorithms that include standards to prevent and manage PIVC insertions and complications.