Twelve tips for integrating ultrasound guided peripheral intravenous access clinical skills teaching into undergraduate medical education

Abstract

Peripheral Intravenous access (PIV) is a procedure undertaken by Medical Practitioners and Non-Medical Practitioners. Traditional PIV uses a visual and tactile technique to locate blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. Chronic medical conditions, dehydration, obesity and recurrent intravenous access can make PIV challenging. Ultrasound (US) guided PIV is recommended to aid the identification of the arm arteries and veins and improve the success rate of needle placement in difficult cases. Medical and non-medical schools, and hospital organisations, are recognising the importance of US guided PIV education for undergraduate and postgraduate Medical and Non-Medical Practitioners. This to promote independence, efficiency and to improve patient safety. The aim of this 12 tips article is to highlight the considerations and practicalities of integrating and delivering, a practical based skills (PBS) session, on the use of US guided practice as an adjunct in difficult PIV, into the undergraduate medical education curricula.

Keywords:

• Undergraduate
• best evidence medical education
• clinical skills
• postgraduate

Disclosure statement

AW and PT have been loaned ultrasound machines for teaching by Sonosite and GE. RW has been loaned machines for teaching by GE.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Luke McMenamin

Dr Luke McMenamin, MBChB, BSc MAcada MEd, is Registrar in Anaesthesia, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK and a Clinical Teaching Fellow at Leeds Institute of Medical Education, University of Leeds, UK.

Fiona E. Brown

Dr Fiona E. Brown, MBChB, is a Clinical Fellow in Simulation working at James Cook University Teaching Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.

Mohit Arora

Dr Mohit Arora, MBBS, MRCEM, FRCEM, PG Cert Medical Ultrasound, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.

James Barnard

Dr James Barnard, MBChB, BSc, is a Clinical Teaching Fellow at Leeds Institute of Medical Education, University of Leeds, UK.

Laura E. Smith

Ms Laura E. Smith, RN, is Head of Clinical Skills Education, Leeds Institute of Medical Education, University of Leeds, UK.

David J. Stockell

Dr David J. Stockell, MBChB, BSc, is a Radiology Registrar at Leeds Academy of Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.

Patrick Tung

Dr Patrick Tung, MBChB, FRCEM, PGCert (Medical Ultrasound), is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Dewsbury and District Hospital, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.

Richard J. Wakefield

Dr Richard J. Wakefield, BM, MD, PGCE, FRCP (UK), is a Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Rheumatology, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, UK.

Asoka Weerasinghe

Dr Asoka Weerasinghe, MBBS, MRCS, MSc (Medical Ultrasound) FRCEM, Department of Emergency Medicine Dewsbury and District Hospital, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.

Stephen Wolstenhulme

Mr Stephen Wolstenhulme, MHSc, FHEA, ULTA-2, DMU, DCR, is an Advanced Practitioner Radiographer (Sonographer), the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.