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School of Nursing

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Browsing School of Nursing by Subject "abbreviated training"

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    Enhancing Patient Care: Nurse-Initiated Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Access
    (2025) Roberts, Jamey D.; Wilson, Kimberly; Esbenshade, Catherine; Hines, Cheryl; Montgomery, Shannon
    Introduction/Purpose: Difficult intravenous access (DIVA) presents a challenge to hospitalized patients and healthcare providers. When peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) access attempts fail, central venous access devices (CVADs) are used. Nurses can identify DIVA and insert PIVCs using ultrasound early in hospitalization. This project trained nurses to perform intravenous access with ultrasound through brief education and simulation-based learning. Methods: Study participants were recruited from the obstetrical unit at the project site. After consent, they completed an online module and practiced ultrasound-guided PIVC insertion with simulators. Competence was assessed using simulations, and changes in confidence and IV success rates were compared before and after the intervention. Results: Eighteen registered nurses participated in the intervention. The level of confidence in PIVC insertion demonstrated a significant improvement from pre-intervention (M = 41.61, SD = 9.568) to the post-intervention (M = 48.28, SD = 3.578). All participants achieved competency during simulated placements of ultrasound-guided PIVCs. PIVC attempts decreased post-intervention (M = 1.5 vs. 1.8), but the difference was not statistically significant, p = .259. Consults for ultrasound-guided PIVC insertion by VAT or CRNA decreased from 5 to 2 across the study period. Discussion: Applying ultrasound to guide intravenous access for DIVA patients provides better outcomes for patients and reduces stress on providers. Abbreviated training programs that include didactic principles, simulation-based learning, and proctored application are sufficient to educate nurses in providing this skill.