Registered Nurse Reflection Paper

I am a Registered Nurse who works on the IV team and provides venous access for patients during the hours of 7pm to 7am at the only hospital in Owensboro, Kentucky. We are an extremely busy organization who has a bed limitation of 300. Keeping the patients safe and to do no harm is a promise we all strive for (Clancey, 2011). By giving medications in a timely manner is a way of providing safety. Patients expect quality care and this nurse wants to provide the best treatment in the most efficient and efficient manner. Regrettably, there is an area of decreased productivity which is causing a delay in intravenous medications. Patients who we consider "frequent flyers" or who have long-standing medical issues such as diabetes, pancreatitis, renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heart disease tend to have many readmissions. Grievously, this means these patients likely have poor intravenous access. If I am not
Fundamentally, I would obtain permission from my manager. I would explain the advantages of having me trained to insert PICC lines on night shift. The advantages would be patients would receive their intravenous pain mediations in a timely manner and this would lead to higher patient satisfaction scores. I would emphasize the benefit of having one PICC insertion that is numbed with lidocaine verses the possibility of numerous peripheral attempts without lidocaine. Studies show that patients rate their satisfaction as very good when staff responds to their complaint even if there is not an actual reduction in pain (Downey & Zun, 2010). Multiple intravenous sticks are one of patients greatest fears. When patients present for healthcare it often causes them both physical and mental distress (Andrews & Shaw, 2010). Having me insert PICC lines on night shift would be an asset to the hospital, would reduce patient anxiety, and reduce delays in