Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: PICC Lines...drawing blood

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    1

    PICC Lines...drawing blood

    Hello, I am a new grad RN. Recently started a position. I have observed nurses take the injection cap(positive pressure)off of a picc line to draw blood. I am uncomfortable with this, as I am concerned with air embolism. I need guidance please....

  2. #2
    Member Extraordinaire
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    1,587

    Re: PICC Lines...drawing blood

    One reason RN's draw from lines and not lab techs because they've been trained to do so. You can't draw with the kinds of caps on that I've had at my hospital and the various ones different suppliers sent to homes when I did home health..you have to use sterile technique and do it right...you can mess up the lines if you do it incorrectly. The positive pressure cap is to keep the line open unlike the old days when you had to leave a bubble in the syringe to create that pressure as you withdrew the NEEDLE. After you've drawn and flushed with cap off flush with more saline with the cap back on to lock it back up if not on running fluids.
    Check your hospitals procedure on drawing from lines and find out when you can be trained to do so so you'll have experience doing it with a preceptor before you are on your own

Similar Threads

  1. LPN proficient in drawing blood
    By Aaron C. in forum Nursing Jobs [Archive]
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-04-2010, 07:41 AM
  2. question from a non-nurse about drawing blood
    By Sand Cat in forum General Nursing Discussion
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-29-2008, 06:36 AM
  3. Are LPN's allowed to care for Picc Lines
    By annelieseRN in forum LPN vs. RN vs. BSN
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 05-22-2008, 04:22 AM
  4. PICC Lines
    By Grandma-RN in forum MICU/SICU
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 02-03-2008, 10:23 PM
  5. drawing blood off iv?
    By jewelsrn2 in forum General Nursing Discussion
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 02-04-2007, 01:44 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •