Coral’s story aligns with the 2021 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Management of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Clinical Care Standard, particularly Quality Statements 3 & 5.
Quality Statement 3 – Ensure competency
A patient’s PIVC is inserted and maintained by clinicians who are trained and assessed as competent in current evidence-based practices for vessel health preservation and preventing device related complications, relevant to their scope of practice. Insertion by a clinician working towards achieving competency is supervised by a clinician who is trained and assessed as competent.
Quality Statement 5 – Maximise first insertion success
The likelihood of inserting a PIVC successfully on the first attempt is maximised for each patient, according to a health service organisation’s process for maximising first-time insertion success.
More Real Life Story
Sarah’s Story
A 25-year-old female, Sarah, presented with upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. She was cannulated for blood collection and pre-emptively in case further treatment was required.
An initial attempt to insert a PIVC in the right cubital fossa was unsuccessful. The patient experienced significant pain and distress during this attempt, becoming tearful. A subsequent attempt in the left cubital fossa was successful. At no point was there a discussion regarding the patient’s preferred insertion site, nor were alternative sites such as the hand or forearm assessed.
Throughout her attendance, the cannula caused ongoing discomfort, particularly with arm movement. Prior to discharge, a decision was made to administer a fluid bolus; however, delivery of 1 litre of fluid took approximately 3.5 hours due to repeated obstruction of the cannula.
This story aligns with ACSQHC Quality Statement 2, 3 and 5.