Improving practice in accessing haemodialysis central venous catheters
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Improving practice in accessing haemodialysis central venous catheters

Jean Barrett Staff Nurse, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Scotland
Leanne Millar Nurse Educator, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Scotland
Deepa Athavale Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Scotland
Ben Christopher Reynolds Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Scotland

Why you should read this article:
  • To enhance your awareness of the variation in practice between children’s haemodialysis units in relation to accessing haemodialysis central venous catheters (CVCs)

  • To learn about the changes to practice in haemodialysis CVC access and blood sampling technique made by one unit to improve patient safety

  • To recognise how reviewing one area of practice may lead to changes in other areas

In children, haemodialysis is used as a form of renal replacement therapy and is typically delivered via a central venous catheter (CVC). It is necessary to access the CVC for dialysis and blood sampling regularly, and safe line practice is essential to minimise complications associated with CVCs, including infection.

The authors had concerns about the rate of CVC infection in their children’s haemodialysis unit, which prompted a practice review. A questionnaire was emailed to all other children’s haemodialysis units in the UK, which identified variations in practice and training. The authors subsequently modified their unit’s CVC access guidelines and blood sampling technique, and developed a new competency-based ‘haemodialysis CVC access only’ training programme for nursing staff. A willingness to review practice in the unit, supported by comparison and communication with other units, assisted in implementing this change in practice.

Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1309

Peer review

This article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

jean.barrett@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Barrett J, Millar L, Athavale D et al (2020) Improving practice in accessing haemodialysis central venous catheters. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1309

Published online: 14 September 2020

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