Undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of the current content and pedagogical approaches used in PIVC education. A qualitative, descriptive study

Abstract

Background: The peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) is the most frequently used invasive medical device. PIVCs fail for a variety of reasons and failure often results in serious adverse events leading to patient discomfort, delays in treatment, increased health care costs and even death. Undergraduate nurses assess and manage PIVCs as part of their clinical learning. To date, no study has explored undergraduate nurses' perceptions of the education they receive about PIVCs. Aim: We sought to critically explore the current state of education regarding PIVCs from the perspectives of undergraduate nurses. Methods: This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with third-year undergraduate nurses. Data were collected across two sites in Queensland, Australia. Fourteen face-to-face interviews were conducted and a modified 5-step qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings: We identified three key domains relating to participants' experiences of PIVC education: 1) Universities provide foundational knowledge about PIVC assessment, management and removal; 2) Clinical practice consolidates and drives undergraduate nurses' knowledge, skills and confidence about PIVCs; and 3) inconsistencies in clinical practice and between individual clinicians impedes learning and knowledge translation about PIVCs. Conclusion: Nursing students benefit from theoretical content delivered in the university setting. Practical application of theory and skill development whilst on clinical placement is variable. The current undergraduate curriculum, related to management of patients with a PIVC, is disjointed and inconsistent and this inconsistency may negatively impact patient safety.