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Intravenous Line Workaround. What is a “workaround?”
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Intravenous Line Workaround What is a “workaround?” “’…A rushed, improvised response to a breakdown in a work process, without pausing to analyze and correct the underlying problem’” (Finkleman, 2012, p. 85). In other words, a workaround is a way to get by in a situation by doing something in a manner that is incorrect and possibly dangerous, instead of taking time to fix the problem. • Health care Acquired Infections (HAI’s) • Shares top spot in the U.S. health care system along with medication errors • One of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. • In 2006, 1.7 million HAI’s with 99,000 associated deaths • Between $4.5 and $5.7 billion in added patient costs per year (Grissinger, 2011). Hospital policy states: “Do not loop the end of any IV tubing onto another port of the same tubing, use only a sterile end cap to maintain sterility.” This looping practice is seen on the unit approximately once per 4-6 shifts. NO! NO! NO! NO! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! • “Looping” • Attaching the male luer lock intravenous line end to the hub of the iv line. • This process is not “best practice,” and should be avoided. • What should I do? • Know your facility policy • If your facility does not have a policy, work with your educator and administration on developing a policy in line with best practice. • “Best practice” is to cap the IV tubing end with a new sterile cap each and every time the IV is disconnected (Grissinger, 2011) • Why? • Not sterile-no guarantee port has been disinfected correctly • Reduced patient mortality • Reduced patient length of stay • Reduced cost to the hospital • Not “best practice” as shown by research References Finkleman, A. (2012). Leadership and Management for Nurses: Core Competencies for Quality Care. Grissinger, Matthew. (2011). Capping intravenous tubing and disinfecting intravenous ports reduce risks of infection. P&T: Journal for Formulary Management (36)2, 62, 76. Mercy General Hospital. (2012). Intravenous line management. Sacramento, CA. Mercy General Hospital.