VASCULAR ACCESS SPECIALIST RN - VASCULAR ACCESS - PRN VARIES
About The Position
The Vascular Access Specialist RN practices autonomously to identify patients who may benefit from PICC or Mid Line placement, particularly early in their treatment plan. The specialist assesses patients for appropriate placement and performs insertion, care, maintenance, education, and quality improvement activities using evidence-based care. The role educates nurses and medical staff about peripherally inserted central lines and promotes their appropriate utilization. The specialist monitors performance improvement measures related to IV and dressing changes, assists with difficult peripheral IV insertions and IV infusion therapy, and supports other vascular access needs. The position also evaluates staff competency, provides education, collaborates with physicians and interdisciplinary teams, and helps maintain appropriate vascular access and IV therapy policies and procedures. Care is provided to adult and geriatric populations.
Requirements
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Current licensure with the State of Illinois.
- BLS certification required within 30 days of hire.
- Minimum of three years of experience in a hospital setting.
- Completion of a PICC/Mid Line educational course covering anatomy, physiology, care and maintenance, pharmacology, patient education and selection, complication management, sterile insertion technique, quality assurance, and data collection.
- The PICC/Mid Line course must include a theoretical component and a supervised hands-on practicum with a minimum of 3–5 successful insertions.
Nice To Haves
- BSN.
- ACLS certification.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate competency in placement of PICCs, Mid Lines, and other vascular access devices.
- Provide safe, skillful, accurate, efficient, age-appropriate, and population-specific care to adult and geriatric patients while respecting patients’ rights and cultural, ethical, and religious diversity.
- Identify potential candidates for PICCs, Mid Lines, or other long-term vascular access devices by rounding on nursing units, collaborating with Pharmacy, and using other identification tools.
- Collaborate with physicians to obtain orders for appropriate vascular access early in treatment; provide physician education and consultation.
- Monitor PICC and Mid Line care and maintenance, assist with dressing changes, perform de-clotting procedures, troubleshoot complications, and provide bedside education.
- Assist staff in monitoring the need for dressing changes and peripheral IV changes.
- Assess patient and family learning needs and teach them about PICC and Mid Line care and maintenance and other IV therapy as indicated.
- Coordinate and implement outpatient services such as line insertions, dressing changes, lab draws, de-clotting, IV infusions, and other IV therapy.
- Serve as a resource for accessing and de-accessing port-a-caths and central lines, and assist staff with difficult peripheral IV insertions.
- Complete accurate and timely documentation according to hospital policies and procedures; work with Revenue Systems and IS to support appropriate patient charges and documentation.
- Record PICC and Mid Line insertion and maintenance data, and maintain and evaluate performance improvement indicators.
- Ensure vascular access and IV therapy policies and procedures are appropriate and updated as needed, monitor staff compliance, and provide related education.
- Support the professional nursing role through research and evidence-based practice, and maintain and improve vascular access knowledge and competency.
- Provide leadership and autonomy in the professional practice setting and the nursing profession.
- Facilitate meetings or correspondence with other PICC and Mid Line nurses; identify issues and resource or education needs, plan interventions, and evaluate effectiveness.
- Participate in IV therapy product evaluation and implementation, evaluate new PICC and Mid Line products, train staff on their use, and participate in committees and councils as directed.
