Central Line Care (Nursing)

Many hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients have a central line in place in order to facilitate the administration of fluids and medications or to draw blood.

The procedure of placing a central line isn’t without its risks: artery or lung puncture, pain, or the introduction of an infection are risks that accompany this procedure. Maintaining a central line is also important because we want to avoid catheter-related infections, blood clots, and loss of use of the central line—all things that place the patient at risk, lead to repeat procedures, and increase costs.

Nurses are key in ensuring central line maintenance. In this course, you will learn the fundamental skills for caring for patients with central lines as well as how to safely obtain a blood specimen through the central line.