Question

You used three intravenous (IV) catheters to do a particularly difficult venipuncture. Do you charge the patient for all three catheters? What if you accidentally contaminated one by touching the sheet? How is the catheter paid for if not charged to the patient? Who benefits and who loses when patients are not charged for supplies?

Answer 1

Answer :

If a nurse uses & wastes intravenous intracatheters to do difficult venipuncture, patient would not be charged for the wasted intracaths , as it is due to lack of skill in practicing nurse or RN .

If the intracath gets contaminated mistakenly , it should be discarded & aseptic guidelines for venipuncture should be followed.

If a nurse discards the intracath due failure of venipuncture , patient is not made to pay for it, & it is considered as hospital's loss.

• Aseptic technique: is a part of all procedures which aims to prevent pathogenic microorganisms, in sufficient quantity to cause infection, from being introduced to susceptible key sites by key parts, hands, surfaces and equipment. Therefore, unlike sterile techniques, standard and surgical aseptic techniques are possible and can be achieved in typical hospital and community settings.
• Decontaminate hands: Perform hand hygiene in order to protect the patient from organisms which may enter their key sites or devices during a procedure.
• Key Parts: part of the device/s that must remain aseptic throughout the clinical procedures. Examples of Key parts include, catheter hub, needleless connector, syringe hub, needle etc.
• Key Sites: the area on the patient such as IV insertion site that must be protected from microorganisms.