Evaluating the effectiveness of vascular access imaging device in training of new graduate nurses

Peripheral intravenous (IV) line placement is one of the most invasive and painful procedures performed by nurse. Although it is a common nursing procedure, sufficient and effective skill training is necessary before encountering patients, especially for new nurses. Vascular access devices (VADs) are now developed and introduced in hospitals, however, the effectiveness for the training among the new graduate nurses has rarely been reported, especially in Japan. In this paper, we reported a quasi-experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of VAD in terms of training new graduate nurses for performing IV line placement successfully. Eleven newly registered nurses participated in this study. Their preparations were video-recorded for analysis. T tests were used to compare time and success rates of IV placement in two methods, with VAD assistance and without VAD assistance. Furthermore, subjects reported their feeling and the self-image for the VAD use by questionnaires and those texts were analyzed. The results showed no significant difference in length of time used, and in successful peripheral IV line placement, however, nurses indicated the VAD did help them make decision about the site of IV insertion. It suggests that the clinical use of VAD could possibly reduce the time for the decision making process of venipunctures and indicates its supportiveness as an IV training tool.