Care and maintenance to reduce vascular access complications

The document needs to be reviewed and applied, based on the specific needs of the organization or practice setting/environment, as well as the needs and wishes of the client. [...] While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents at the time of publication, neither the authors nor the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) give any guarantee as to the accuracy of the information contained in them nor accept any liability, with respect to loss, damage, injury or expense arising from any such errors or omission in the contents of this work. [...] To decrease the risk of complications associated with the use of vascular access devices, it is essential not only to develop guidelines but to have a process for the implementation of the guidelines. [...] Level IV Discussion of Evidence When selecting a site for a peripheral venous access device (PVAD) insertion, the nurse should: ■ Avoid areas of flexion (INS, 2000); ■ Avoid the inner aspect of the wrist in order to decrease the risk of damage to the radial, ulnar, and/or median nerves which are located within a five centimetre (cm) radius of the inner aspect of the wrist (Masoorli, 1998; Thrush, [...] Transparent dressings also assist in the securement of the device, allow for continuous visual inspection of the catheter and permit the client to bathe and shower without saturating the dressing.