Which intervention should the nurse ensure is included in the client’s plan of care for vascular access?

Which intervention should the nurse ensure is included in the client’s plan of care for vascular access?

• A. Assess the client’s distal pulses and circulation in the arm with the access.
• B. Central vein insertion sites are cleaned weekly using aseptic technique.
• C. Perform sterile dressing changes at the dual-lumen catheter site.
• D. Initiate heparin therapy at the catheter site.

Answer: (C)

Preventing catheter-related infection through sterile dressing changes around the catheter site is essential. A dual-lumen catheter used for vascular access requires meticulous sterile technique at every dressing change, including proper hand hygiene, sterile gloves, and skin antisepsis (often chlorhexidine) before applying a new dressing. This minimizes the risk of pathogens entering the bloodstream. While assessing limb perfusion is important for fistulas or grafts, and dressing changes need to be performed per policy rather than on a weekly schedule, routine administration of heparin at the catheter site is not a standard site-care intervention unless specified by a locking protocol. Therefore, performing sterile dressing changes at the catheter site best addresses infection prevention in vascular access care.

Preventing catheter-related infection through sterile dressing changes around the catheter site is essential. A dual-lumen catheter used for vascular access requires meticulous sterile technique at every dressing change, including proper hand hygiene, sterile gloves, and skin antisepsis (often chlorhexidine) before applying a new dressing. This minimizes the risk of pathogens entering the bloodstream. While assessing limb perfusion is important for fistulas or grafts, and dressing changes need to be performed per policy rather than on a weekly schedule, routine administration of heparin at the catheter site is not a standard site-care intervention unless specified by a locking protocol. Therefore, performing sterile dressing changes at the catheter site best addresses infection prevention in vascular access care.