Vascular Access Nurse

Colquitt Regional Medical Center•Moultrie, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vascular Access Nurse is responsible for assessing patients for appropriate vascular access, collaborating with healthcare providers to select the most suitable device, and performing insertion procedures. This role involves maintaining, troubleshooting, and preventing complications related to vascular access devices. The nurse also serves as a clinical resource, provides education to patients and staff, and ensures accurate documentation. Additionally, the position contributes to quality improvement initiatives by tracking metrics and participating in performance improvement activities. The scope of practice for the Vascular Access Nurse is within the RN scope, organizational policy, approved competencies, and provider orders. The nurse does not independently prescribe therapy, determine medical diagnoses, or replace provider decision-making but may recommend alternate access and escalate concerns. Additional procedures may be performed after policy approval, training, and competency validation.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing required.
Current Registered Nurse license in the State of Georgia required.
Minimum of two years of acute care nursing experience required.
Current BLS certification required.
PICC/vascular access training and documented competency required before independent practice.
Demonstrates safe ultrasound-guided vascular access skills and understanding of vascular anatomy.
Applies appropriate device selection principles for peripheral, midline, and central vascular access.
Maintains strong sterile technique and infection prevention practice.
Communicates clearly with providers, nurses, patients, and families.
Demonstrates critical thinking, prioritization, and timely escalation of concerns.
Uses the electronic medical record accurately for orders, documentation, and follow-up.
Maintains professional practice, confidentiality, and compliance with organizational policies.
Practices within the RN scope of practice, organizational policy, approved competencies, and provider orders as required.

Nice To Haves

Critical care, emergency department, infusion therapy, or vascular access experience preferred.
Vascular Access Board Certification (VA-BC) or Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) preferred or expected within a defined timeframe as determined by the organization.

Responsibilities

Assess patients for appropriate vascular access based on diagnosis, anticipated length of therapy, medication characteristics, vascular history, renal status, and overall clinical condition.
Collaborate with providers, pharmacy, and nursing staff to determine the most appropriate vascular access device, including peripheral IV, ultrasound-guided peripheral IV, midline, PICC, or referral for alternate central access.
Review orders for appropriateness, completeness, and safety prior to line placement.
Identify contraindications or concerns and escalate to the ordering provider when a requested device may not be appropriate.
Insert PICC lines, midline catheters, and ultrasound-guided peripheral IVs according to organizational policy, competency validation, and evidence-based standards.
Use ultrasound guidance, maximal sterile barrier precautions when applicable, sterile technique, and appropriate skin antisepsis during procedures.
Measure, select, and place the appropriate catheter size, length, and number of lumens based on patient need and vessel size.
Confirm catheter tip location according to organizational protocol, which may include ECG-based tip confirmation, radiographic confirmation, or other approved methods.
Maintain patient comfort, privacy, safety, and education throughout the procedure.
Discontinue vascular access devices when ordered and within scope of practice and policy.
Assess existing vascular access devices for patency, securement, dressing integrity, signs of infection, infiltration, extravasation, thrombosis, migration, occlusion, or other complications.
Provide troubleshooting and intervention for line occlusions, dressing concerns, difficult access, and device-related complications within policy.
Support compliance with CLABSI prevention practices, dressing standards, hub disinfection, securement, flushing, and line necessity review.
Escalate concerns promptly to the provider, nursing leadership, infection prevention, or other appropriate resources.
Serve as a clinical resource for bedside nurses, providers, case management, pharmacy, procedural areas, and the emergency department.
Provide consultation for difficult IV access, appropriate line selection, discharge planning needs related to vascular access, and line care questions.
Assist in developing and maintaining vascular access workflows, policies, procedures, order sets, and documentation tools.
Promote consistent practice across departments and support patient throughput by responding to consults in a timely manner.
Educate patients and families on vascular access purpose, care, restrictions, signs of complications, and when to report concerns.
Provide education, coaching, and competency support for nursing staff related to IV therapy, line maintenance, flushing, dressing care, and escalation of concerns.
Support onboarding, annual competency validation, and remediation related to vascular access practices as assigned.
Document assessment findings, indication for access, device type, catheter size and length, insertion site, vessel accessed, number of attempts, confirmation method, patient tolerance, complications, education provided, and handoff communication.
Document line care, troubleshooting, dressing changes, removals, and follow-up actions according to organizational policy and regulatory expectations.
Ensure documentation supports continuity of care, billing capture when applicable, quality review, and regulatory readiness.
Track and report vascular access metrics as assigned, including number and type of lines placed, first-attempt success, complications, line-associated infections, inappropriate line requests, and consult response times.
Participate in CLABSI reduction efforts, infection prevention rounding, chart reviews, audits, and performance improvement initiatives.
Review trends and assist with action plans to improve vascular access outcomes, reduce unnecessary central line utilization, and improve patient safety.
Maintain knowledge of current vascular access standards, evidence-based practice, and organizational policy updates.
Maintains current competency and completes required education on time.
Responds to consults professionally and in a timely manner.
Promotes evidence-based vascular access practice and appropriate device utilization.
Supports quality, patient safety, patient experience, and regulatory readiness goals.
Communicates barriers, trends, and safety concerns to leadership promptly.