Teaching the nursing care of central venous catheters
Abstract:
Background: The occurrence of central venous catheter infections is a metric that hospital systems track. We determined that central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) at our institution occurred in a delayed fashion, prompting us to raise the question of whether the infections were related to insertion or to catheter care and then to design a training simulation focused on how to change the dressing for central venous catheters.
Methods: Using low-cost equipment, such as refrigerator magnets and tape, we constructed a reusable SorbaView SHIELD Contour (Centurion Medical Products Corporation) sterile central line dressing for use in training.
Results: This cost-effective simulation innovation gives staff who care for central venous catheters the opportunity to practice the manual skills involved in dressing changes and eliminates the problem of expending a single-use dressing with each learner experience. The magnetic dressings can be reused as long as the integrity of the SorbaView SHIELD Contour is preserved.
Conclusion: We hope that ongoing training with this simulation model, along with demonstration of competency, will result in standardized central line care and a decrease in CLABSI rates at our institution.
Reference:
Smith MD, Poindexter C, Ellington A, Guthrie R. Use of a Novel Training Aid for Teaching the Nursing Care of Central Venous Catheters. Ochsner J. 2025 Winter;25(4):248-253. doi: 10.31486/toj.25.0042. PMID: 41403858; PMCID: PMC12704473.