The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Division of Health Professions Licensure
Board of Registration in Nursing
239 Causeway Street, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114
617.973.0900
617.973.0895 TTY
July 14, 2011
To: Massachusetts Nursing and Professional Healthcare Organizations
From: Laurie Talarico, MS, RN, NP
Nursing Practice Coordinator
Re: Revised Advisory Ruling 9301: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC)
At the July 13, 2011 Board of Registration in Nursing (Board) meeting the Board issued revisions to Advisory Ruling 9301: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC) to reflect current, evidence-based PICC nursing practice standards.
The Advisory Ruling guides the practice of Registered Nurses whose clinical responsibilities include the insertion, management, and withdrawal of a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC).
The revisions include:
- use of real-time visualization techniques such as ultrasound and fluoroscopy;
- determination by the qualified Registered Nurse of PICC tip placement by viewing a chest radiograph;
- use of Seldinger techniques by the qualified Registered Nurse to insert PICC; and,
- suturing the PICC for stabilization by the qualified Registered Nurse.
On the Board’s website at www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn, scroll to Nursing Practice, scroll to Advisory Rulings on Nursing Practice, and access Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC) to review the entire document.
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