Ateneo - UPO

Concepts of nursing care aimed at the person with a vascular access device

1) Pittiruti / Capozzoli - Manuale pratico degli accessi venosi - 2° Ed. - Antonio Delfino Editore

2) Racca / Grio - Dietro un accesso venoso c’è il mondo – Echos Edizioni

At the end of the course students will be able to
- design and implement a care plan for a patient with a central vascular access device.
The student will be provided with the essential concepts to know, understand and be able to apply the following skills :
- identify the factors that determine the need for the placement of a vascular access device, knowledge of prevention and early diagnosis of catheter-related complications;
- design a standard care plan for the patient with a central vascular access device.

The student is expected to demonstrate autonomous clinical judgement, communication skills to plan and describe the implementation of individualised care, autonomously using diagnostic reasoning (nursing process) and knowledge of anatomy and pathology.

-Presentations in Power Point format.
-Participatory face-to-face and online lectures.
-Small group work,
-Discussion of clinical and nursing cases

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) or Special Educational Needs (BES) may request specific services and tools dedicated to them by contacting the Career Development and Coordination Staff and Student Services and consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsa
Students with disabilities, DSA, BES, once they have made contact with the University Staff, they can contact the teacher in charge of the teaching programme in relation to the declination of examination methods, with regard to teaching aspects.

The examination consists of a written test and an oral test. The written test is designed to test the level of knowledge and understanding of the content of the subjects covered.
- Starting with the 2nd year cohort of students aa 2023/2024 (June 2024), the written test is delivered online and consists of 70 multiple-choice questions covering the medical disciplines. Passing this test (60% of the total number of questions) allows access to the oral test concerning the nursing disciplines. The oral test, which takes place 5/15 days after the written test, is aimed at assessing the student's ability to use diagnostic reasoning independently, using the knowledge learnt and demonstrating that he/she is able to engage in an in-depth discussion of care aspects peculiar to the person with neoplastic pathology, the person in the terminal phase of life and the person wearing a vascular access device

Module 1 - Rational Bases
- Anatomy of the vascular system

Module 2 - Classification and description of venous access devices
- Peripheral venous access devices
- Central venous access devices

Module 3 - Criteria for choosing the most appropriate device
- Criteria for device choice in different care settings
- Drug/device compatibility

Module 4 - PICCs and MIDLINE
- Implantation
- Ultrasound guidance
- Catheter length
- Checking the position of the tip

Module 5 - Catheter-related complications
- Early and late complications
- Haemorrhagic complications
- Mechanical complications
- Thrombotic complications
- Infectious complications

Module 6 - Routine management of vascular access devices
- Dressing
- Washing
- Maintenance when not in use
- Huber's needle placement
- Removal

Module 7 - Insights
- INS Guidelines 2021
- RNAO Guidelines 2023
- Film projections

Below are the expected outcomes of this module:
--Knowledge and understanding
Students at the end of the course will be able to:
- know the factors that determine the need for placement of a vascular access device
- know the criteria for choosing a vascular access device
- know the strategies for prevention and early diagnosis of catheter-related complications
- know the psycho-social needs of the patient wearing a vascular access device
This knowledge is acquired during the theoretical lectures and exercises and is assessed during the learning assessment examinations
--Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Students at the end of the course will be able to:
- know the signs and symptoms of catheter-related complications
- know the care strategies to be implemented in a patient with a vascular access device
- be able to apply diagnostic reasoning, using the knowledge provided in the course, in identifying the needs of the patient with a vascular access device and the possible risks related to its placement, management and treatment
- know how to formulate the care plan, with objectives and interventions, for the patient with a central vascular access device.
These skills are acquired during theoretical lectures and tutorials and are assessed during the learning assessment examinations

--Making judgement
Students at the end of the course will be able to:

- Be able to present in oral form the appropriate considerations on the diagnostic reasoning carried out and the consequent care plan designed, the method employed, the planned interventions and the expected results.
- To be able to use the correct terminology.
These skills are acquired during the theoretical lectures and exercises and are assessed during the learning assessment examinations.