Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion training for undergraduate dual degree nursing and midwifery students: A descriptive qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Seventy percent of hospital admissions require a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) and there is a shortage of skilled inserters. In some countries, undergraduate nursing and midwifery programs teach PIVC insertion, however, in Australia, this is typically limited to simulated PIVC insertion, without hospital-based PIVC insertion experience. We aimed to achieve nursing and midwifery undergraduate clinical competence in PIVC insertion by including hospital-based training.

Objectives: To understand 1) the experience of undergraduate nurse/midwife students who received hospital-based training to achieve PIVC insertion competency; and 2) the impact of the training on nurses/midwives' future PIVC insertion practice.

Study design and methods: Final year students completed a 5-day clinical placement with a hospital vascular access surveillance and education service. Semi-structured interviews occurred at the completion of the placement. A brief cross-sectional survey 12 months later questioned the impact of this training on their subsequent practice as registered nurses/midwives. Interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six phases of inductive thematic analysis to detail participants’ experiences and beliefs. Survey data was described descriptively and barriers and enablers to clinical competency were explored.

Results: A total of 19 students participated in the clinical placement between March and September 2022 with 16 achieving clinical competency. Eleven students were interviewed. Key themes developed include: 1) clinical PIVC training for undergraduate nurse-midwives builds knowledge, skills, and confidence; 2) mixed mode clinical placement learning builds on undergraduate university training; and 3) barriers and enablers to clinical competency. At 12 months, 60% of participants were employer-certified as PIVC competent and had performed the procedure as a graduate nurse or midwife.

Conclusions: Clinical placement with hospital-based vascular access services can enable undergraduate student nurses and midwives to develop PIVC competency. The study highlights the critical role of clinical placements in better preparing nursing and midwifery students for the demands of contemporary healthcare practice.