VA-BC Study Guide comprehensive and latest
version/2024-2025
1. What size needle do you need for blood? How do
you know if you cannulated an artery?
You have a 16 year old patient and the PICC appears to be on the left side, how do you
determine its in the vein and not artery?: 20-24
Bright red blood
Preform ABG
2. Patient needs one dose of vanco what would you recommend?
How do you determine IO position placement?: Midline across
abdomen
3. If patient states NO IV what do you?
What body position do you do for PICC removal? What
arm position for PICC removal?
When should dressing be changed?: Recommend IV upward
arm below
2 days with gauze, 7 days without gauze
4. The left SVC dumps into what?
When should the arterial line set up be changed?
How often do you change arterial lines?: coronary sinus 96 hrs
as needed
5. Best way to keep the pulmonary artery catheter free of infection? How often
do you change IV setups?
What does the Swan (Pulmonary artery catheter) measures?: put in sleeve 96 Hrs
CO (cardiac output)
6. CDC guideline for max barrier include what?
Should you cut a PICC with a distal valve?
What is optimal placement for a MIDLINE?: Sterile gloves, cap, gown, full body sterile drape.
NO
1 inch below axilla
7. Which line has the less incidence of infection? What
values are considered for chronic kidney? What should
you use for a HD cath?: PORT
GFR under 60 and creatinine above 2
Large bore double lumen
8. How long should you flush for?
How long can the umbilical cord be used?
,Why is vein selection harder in babies?: 2 times the length of catheter 14 days
less options
9. Which part of the vessel has the most smooth muscle?
Abian family wants everything done even though patients outcome is death what do you
do?: media
respect there cultural beliefs on death.
10. What should you consider for Device Selection in adults?
What are the pediatric considerations?: Patient assessment like: preference, lifestyle,
willingness to preform maintenance, history, complications, review of vari- ables to determine
correct VAD, high risk factors, advantages and disadvantages. limited selection, fewer veins,
VAD's preserve vessels, caregiver education, avoid scalp vad's in infants rolling, avoid lower
extremity Vad's for crawling patients.
11. What are the Indications for short peripheral catheters?: infusion for 6 days or less.
non-irritating and non-vesicant medications and solutions.
12. What are the contraindications for short peripheral catheters?: Placement into arm
with fracture,trauma, infection, or compromised circulation.
Veins in the arm on the side of a mastectomy, breast surgery, lymph node dissection, av fistula or
graft.
13. What are the preferred vessels for Short peripheral catheters?: metacarpal,
cephalic, basilic, accessory veins in arm.
14. What are the insertion procedures for short peripheral catheters?: follow guidelines,
aseptic technique, 2 attempts per provider, limit of 2 providers, smallest gauge possible to deliver
therapy.
15. What are pediatric considerations for short peripheral catheters?: - Metacarpal,
cephalic, basic, scalp and saphenous veins may be used. Use imaging devices to minimize iv
attempts and secure with approved devices.
16. What are the indications for MIDLINE catheters?: infusion for 6 days to 4 weeks.
Non-irritating and Non-vesicant medications or solutions.
17. What are the contraindications for a MIDLINE?: Placement in arm with fracture,
trauma, infection, AV fistula, or compromised circulation. Chronic kidney disease patients.
18. What is the vessel selection for Midline?: Basilic or cephalic vein in antecu- bital
fossa
19. What is the insertion procedures for MIDLINE?: Follow guidelines, sterile technique,
max sterile barrier precautions, 2 attempts per provider, PICC for midline risks liability as its
against midline DFU.
, 20. What are the supplies and the optimal tip location for MIDLINE?: Midline device,
sterile insertion tray, ultrasound, normal saline flush, dressing supplies. One inch below the
axillary area.
21. What are the Pediatric considerations for MIDLINE?: alternative vein selec- tion like
the scalp, popliteal, and saphenous veins.
22. What are the indications and Contraindications for Non-Tunneled
Catheters?: Short term and emergency central vein access.
neck and chest sites excluded for trach patients, neck dissection, cervical fracture, or unstable
airway. unable to position, insert, or stabilize catheter. Avoid same side as PICC.
23. What is the vessel selection for Non-tunneled catheters?: Jugular, Subcla- vian, or
femoral veins
24. What are the insertion procedures for non-tunneled catheters?: Antimi- crobial
catheters for high risk patients, Follow guidelines, maximum sterile barrier precautions, put in
slight trendelenburg to avoid air emboli, avoid blind stick, use ECG for tip location, check for
blood return prior to infusion.
25. What are the supplies for a non-tunneled catheters?: Non-tunneled per-
cutaneous venous catheter, sterile procedural insertion tray, max sterile barrier precautions,
Ultrasound, normal saline flush, Heparin flush, dressing
26. What is the Optimal tip location for non-tunneled catheters?: Cavoatrial
juncture, inferior vena cava at diaphragm if inserted in femoral vein.
27. What are the indications for a PICC?: Patients who require a central venous access
when duration is unknown. irritating and vesicant agents.
28. What are the Contraindications for a PICC?: Placement in arm with fracture, trauma
infection, amputation, paralyzed (thrombosis risk), compromised circulation. Chronic kidney
disease patients.
29.What is the vessel selection for a PICC?: Basilic, brachial, cephalic vein.
30. What are the insertion procedures for a PICC?: Antimicrobial catheters for high risk
patients, follow guidelines, Max sterile barrier precautions, Avoid blind stick, avoid catheter tip in
upper SVC or midclavicular, Confirm with ECG or radiograph, check for blood return prior to
infusion
31. What are the supplies for a PICC and what is the Optimal tip location?: - PICC
device, Sterile insertion tray, Ultrasound, ECG system, normal saline flush, heparin flush.
Caval atrial juncture
32. What are the Pediatric considerations for a PICC?: Alternative vein selection like
scalp and popliteal vein. Heparin may decrease catheter occlusion.
33. What are the indications for a Tunneled Catheters?: Infusions for months or years,
Apheresis,
version/2024-2025
1. What size needle do you need for blood? How do
you know if you cannulated an artery?
You have a 16 year old patient and the PICC appears to be on the left side, how do you
determine its in the vein and not artery?: 20-24
Bright red blood
Preform ABG
2. Patient needs one dose of vanco what would you recommend?
How do you determine IO position placement?: Midline across
abdomen
3. If patient states NO IV what do you?
What body position do you do for PICC removal? What
arm position for PICC removal?
When should dressing be changed?: Recommend IV upward
arm below
2 days with gauze, 7 days without gauze
4. The left SVC dumps into what?
When should the arterial line set up be changed?
How often do you change arterial lines?: coronary sinus 96 hrs
as needed
5. Best way to keep the pulmonary artery catheter free of infection? How often
do you change IV setups?
What does the Swan (Pulmonary artery catheter) measures?: put in sleeve 96 Hrs
CO (cardiac output)
6. CDC guideline for max barrier include what?
Should you cut a PICC with a distal valve?
What is optimal placement for a MIDLINE?: Sterile gloves, cap, gown, full body sterile drape.
NO
1 inch below axilla
7. Which line has the less incidence of infection? What
values are considered for chronic kidney? What should
you use for a HD cath?: PORT
GFR under 60 and creatinine above 2
Large bore double lumen
8. How long should you flush for?
How long can the umbilical cord be used?
,Why is vein selection harder in babies?: 2 times the length of catheter 14 days
less options
9. Which part of the vessel has the most smooth muscle?
Abian family wants everything done even though patients outcome is death what do you
do?: media
respect there cultural beliefs on death.
10. What should you consider for Device Selection in adults?
What are the pediatric considerations?: Patient assessment like: preference, lifestyle,
willingness to preform maintenance, history, complications, review of vari- ables to determine
correct VAD, high risk factors, advantages and disadvantages. limited selection, fewer veins,
VAD's preserve vessels, caregiver education, avoid scalp vad's in infants rolling, avoid lower
extremity Vad's for crawling patients.
11. What are the Indications for short peripheral catheters?: infusion for 6 days or less.
non-irritating and non-vesicant medications and solutions.
12. What are the contraindications for short peripheral catheters?: Placement into arm
with fracture,trauma, infection, or compromised circulation.
Veins in the arm on the side of a mastectomy, breast surgery, lymph node dissection, av fistula or
graft.
13. What are the preferred vessels for Short peripheral catheters?: metacarpal,
cephalic, basilic, accessory veins in arm.
14. What are the insertion procedures for short peripheral catheters?: follow guidelines,
aseptic technique, 2 attempts per provider, limit of 2 providers, smallest gauge possible to deliver
therapy.
15. What are pediatric considerations for short peripheral catheters?: - Metacarpal,
cephalic, basic, scalp and saphenous veins may be used. Use imaging devices to minimize iv
attempts and secure with approved devices.
16. What are the indications for MIDLINE catheters?: infusion for 6 days to 4 weeks.
Non-irritating and Non-vesicant medications or solutions.
17. What are the contraindications for a MIDLINE?: Placement in arm with fracture,
trauma, infection, AV fistula, or compromised circulation. Chronic kidney disease patients.
18. What is the vessel selection for Midline?: Basilic or cephalic vein in antecu- bital
fossa
19. What is the insertion procedures for MIDLINE?: Follow guidelines, sterile technique,
max sterile barrier precautions, 2 attempts per provider, PICC for midline risks liability as its
against midline DFU.
, 20. What are the supplies and the optimal tip location for MIDLINE?: Midline device,
sterile insertion tray, ultrasound, normal saline flush, dressing supplies. One inch below the
axillary area.
21. What are the Pediatric considerations for MIDLINE?: alternative vein selec- tion like
the scalp, popliteal, and saphenous veins.
22. What are the indications and Contraindications for Non-Tunneled
Catheters?: Short term and emergency central vein access.
neck and chest sites excluded for trach patients, neck dissection, cervical fracture, or unstable
airway. unable to position, insert, or stabilize catheter. Avoid same side as PICC.
23. What is the vessel selection for Non-tunneled catheters?: Jugular, Subcla- vian, or
femoral veins
24. What are the insertion procedures for non-tunneled catheters?: Antimi- crobial
catheters for high risk patients, Follow guidelines, maximum sterile barrier precautions, put in
slight trendelenburg to avoid air emboli, avoid blind stick, use ECG for tip location, check for
blood return prior to infusion.
25. What are the supplies for a non-tunneled catheters?: Non-tunneled per-
cutaneous venous catheter, sterile procedural insertion tray, max sterile barrier precautions,
Ultrasound, normal saline flush, Heparin flush, dressing
26. What is the Optimal tip location for non-tunneled catheters?: Cavoatrial
juncture, inferior vena cava at diaphragm if inserted in femoral vein.
27. What are the indications for a PICC?: Patients who require a central venous access
when duration is unknown. irritating and vesicant agents.
28. What are the Contraindications for a PICC?: Placement in arm with fracture, trauma
infection, amputation, paralyzed (thrombosis risk), compromised circulation. Chronic kidney
disease patients.
29.What is the vessel selection for a PICC?: Basilic, brachial, cephalic vein.
30. What are the insertion procedures for a PICC?: Antimicrobial catheters for high risk
patients, follow guidelines, Max sterile barrier precautions, Avoid blind stick, avoid catheter tip in
upper SVC or midclavicular, Confirm with ECG or radiograph, check for blood return prior to
infusion
31. What are the supplies for a PICC and what is the Optimal tip location?: - PICC
device, Sterile insertion tray, Ultrasound, ECG system, normal saline flush, heparin flush.
Caval atrial juncture
32. What are the Pediatric considerations for a PICC?: Alternative vein selection like
scalp and popliteal vein. Heparin may decrease catheter occlusion.
33. What are the indications for a Tunneled Catheters?: Infusions for months or years,
Apheresis,
