Securing VAD’s (vascular access devices) of all types is key to preventing complications. When we don’t have good securement catheters move at the insertion site. We use words like migration, piston, dislodgment to describe these events. These events lead to poor outcomes for our patients. Mechanical, chemical and bacterial phlebitis are conditions that can lead to delays in therapy, restarts, infections and if not attended to severe damage to the surrounding tissue. We as nurses need to protect our patients at all costs and we need to prevent these complications. Nurses all across this country should use the same phlebitis scale so we are all speaking the same language. INS has developed a phlebitis scale and we need to assess and document every shift the VAD insertion site. Good securement leads to good outcomes.
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