Effectiveness of a nurse-led peripherally inserted central catheter service: A retrospective cohort study

Background: A multitude of challenges arises from the growing utilisation of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), including the ability to provide timely, effective and safe insertion, which must be ensured and prioritised in patient care. A nurse-led model of care has become more prevalent as PICCs become extensively needed due to their applications. However, despite their widespread use, such intervention is yet in its inception in Saudi Arabia, and thereby, evaluating the outcomes of this service is of utmost importance to support patient safety initiatives and quality of care.Purpose: This research aims to assess the effectiveness of a nurse-led PICC placement service.Methods: A quantitative retrospective cohort design was used. The sample of this study was 333 random subsets of records on PICC insertion for adult patients between 1st April 2019 and 31st March 2023 in a tertiary medical facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results: A nurse-led PICC service demonstrated an overall successful placement of 330 cases (99.1%), out of which 323 PICCs (97%) were successfully inserted under intra-cavitary electrocardiogram (IC-ECG) guidance, while 7 PICCs (2.1%) were successfully inserted with fluoroscopy. The overall complication rate was 2.35 occurrences per 1000 CL days, whereas the complication rate within the first 10 days after PICC insertion was 0.42 per 1000 CL days.Conclusion: A nurse-led model for PICC insertion has remarkably high success rates and low rates of complication, highlighting the pivotal role of a specialised PICC team. This service boasted a commendable track record of achieving a high rate of success in its implementation, implying that a nurse-led PICC service operates effectively to improve the patient experience by delivering timely and high-quality healthcare service.