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Let's go over at some of
the most frequently asked questions.
What is a return
demonstration?
You or your caregiver
will demonstrate for the infusion therapy team nurse the skills that are needed
to safely care for the catheter at home. The nurse will ensure that
the proper safe technique is used. To complete the education for the
dressing change, you must attend and repeat this class the second time since it
is very important to get all the steps down. The infusion therapy
team then will help you schedule your return demonstration which can be done
while you are an inpatient in your hospital room or Monday through Friday in
the Infusion Therapy outpatient clinics.
Can my catheter be used
for drawing blood?
Blood is not routinely
drawn through the catheter because it can increase the risk of a catheter
infection. They should be avoided. However, with your
doctor's orders, this can be done if you have small veins which make blood
drawing an unusually painful experience.
How do I store my flush
solution?
The flush usually
requires no special storage. Store it at room temperature unless
otherwise directed by a pharmacist.
How do I keep my
dressing dry while bathing or showering?
A good way to keep your
CVC dressing dry when bathing is to cover it, using the plastic food wrap with
the sticky adhesive on it. If you have a PICC, wrap the plastic all
the way around your arm. Then press and seal the plastic wrap down
to your skin. If your CVC is on your chest, press and seal the
plastic onto and all around the CVC dressing. And bring it back up
over your shoulder. You can add tape to the edges if needed. Other
patients report this works very well if you buy the original product and not a
less expensive generic brand.
Where do I get the
supplies I need?
After you have
successfully and safely demonstrated this care in front of an infusion therapy
nurse. You can have the infusion therapy team fill out your supply
request and pick up the sterile supplies from the patient supply department in
the main hospital. Be sure and get enough supplies to last till your
next visit. For nonsterile supplies
such as the box of nonsterile gloves or
alcohol wipes, you can get these from the hospital supply department or from a
local pharmacy. You will also receive a prescription for your
flush. This can be filled at the hospital pharmacies in the Clark
Clinic or the Mays[phonetic] Clinic. If you get the prescription filled somewhere else, the flush may
came in a bottle and not a syringe. Check with your pharmacy. Finally,
like many of the experiences you are facing, this is a temporary
situation. The education and support of your health care team along
with your family and friends will see you through this. Also
remember, infusion therapy nurses are always on duty in the hospital if you
have questions. This is your catheter. You have the right
and responsibility to make sure it is properly taken care of.
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