Background: China is adopting and promoting the mini-midline catheter insertion technique, which requires professional training to ensure its application and patient safety. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of the Train-the-Trainer model in nurse training for Mini-Midline Catheter Insertion.

Methods: A medical center selected venous therapy specialist nurses for mini-midline catheter procedure training, after which these nurses became trainers and guided other nurses. The research utilized a mixed-methods design, incorporating puncture condition surveys and open-ended questions. Over the following six months, outcomes such as catheter insertion success rates were monitored, and nurses’ interviews were analyzed using the Kawakita Jiro method.

Results: A total of 675 mini-midline catheters were inserted in the study, with a success rate of 97.54%. The success rate for first-attempt punctures was 86.51%, with 584 successful cases and no catheterization-related complications. After training, expert consultations for catheter issues decreased from 28.46 to 9.25%. Additionally, three key themes of the training were identified: (1) enhancing nurses’ professional sense of achievement and job satisfaction through skill mastery; (2) familiar groups and environments are more conducive to improving training effectiveness; and (3) the multifaceted role opens up a brand new path for the professional development of nurses.

Conclusion: The mini-midline catheter insertion training program based on the “train-the-trainer” model effectively ensures the standardization of nurses’ techniques and the safety of punctures while also cultivating educators and thus deserves widespread promotion.

Yuan M, Li J, Shao W, Xu C, Luo N, Wang H. Evaluating the impact train-the-trainer program in nurse training for mini-midline catheter insertion. BMC Med Educ. 2025 Mar 17;25(1):389. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-06975-5. PMID: 40091028.