Effectiveness of the Central Line Care Team in Reducing CLABs

Central lines are a fundamental part of the health care provided for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); they provide vascular access for the administration of fluids and total parenteral nutrition. Central lines predispose patients to Central Line Associated Bacteremia, CLABs, especially when the health provider does not consider all the safety measures while administering medications. CLABs lead to increased lengths of stay, health expenses and higher mortality rates. This paper delineates patients’ degree of susceptibility to CLABs when the health provider is a nurse practitioner and when care is provided by a member of a central line care team. The PICOT statement being; does the patient with the central line have less chances of obtaining CLABs when care is given by a central line care team who is responsible for central lines or by a nurse whose purpose is primary care and is new. Abstract Alexandrou, E. Murgo, M., Calabria, E. … & Hillman, K. M. (2011). Nurse-led central venous catheter insertion-Procedural characteristics and outcomes of three intensive care based catheter placement services. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 1-7. This study was conducted to refute the claims of published data that nurse-led Central Venous Catheter, CVC, insertion had negative patient outcomes. Data collection involved the participation of three nurses who were trained in central line administration through their hospitals’ CLAB-ICU project initiative. This project acquainted the nurses in each facility with skills necessary for effective central line insertion with positive patient outcomes. Results showed that nurses can provide effective central line-related services if they have high procedural volume and skills on central venous catheterization.