The use of peripherally inserted central catheter lines for central venous access in patients has increased in recent years despite a lack of evidence regarding safety. A recent survey of invasive catheter practices among patients in the United States found that 37% of terminally ill patients use peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) as part of their treatment protocol. The goal of this paper is to inform the reader about the safety, teaching, and care of peripherally inserted central catheters and lines. Safe and reliable vascular access is essential for the treatment of patients. The patient’s understanding of the use of these catheters and lines are also important to health and wellbeing of the patient. The care of these lines and catheters also play an important role in safety and keeping the patient free from infections and complications associated with improper care techniques. All subjects covered in this paper are equally important to the care and health of the patient and must be …show more content…
The proper teaching and safety techniques may not completely eliminate adverse effects, but they may significantly reduce the risk of getting them. Taking care of a PICC can also be time consuming and if it is a nurse in a hospital setting with several patients, mistakes can happen when rushed. Nurses need to make sure they take their time to check and double check their work. A simple mishap can cause serious injuries or infections to the patient. In-Home care of PICC can be delegated to a family member but it is the job of the nurse to make sure that the patient and the delegated family member is educated properly. PICC lines and catheters can have many beneficial elements for the patient as long as we ensure the proper guidelines and teaching methods to ensure the therapeutic