Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Vascular Access Imaging Device Used in Training Recently Graduated Nurses

[abstFig src='/00290002/08.jpg' width='300' text='The VAID helps to select proper IV insertion sites' ] Peripheral intravenous (IV) line placement is one of the most invasive and painful procedures performed by nurses. Although it is a common nursing procedure, sufficient and effective skill training is necessary before nurses, especially new nurses, work with patients. Vascular access imaging devices (VAIDs) have been developed and put into use in hospitals. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the device in clinical settings such as in neonatal care, pediatric care, emergency care, etc., but the effectiveness of the device in training nurses who have just recently graduated has rarely been reported, especially in Japan. In this paper, we report on a quasi-experimental study that evaluated the effectiveness of the VAID for training recent nursing school graduates to successfully perform IV line placement. Eleven newly registered nurses participated in this study. Their preparations were video recorded for analysis. Students’ t -tests were used to compare time and success rates of IV placement with VAID assistance and without it. Furthermore, subjects reported their feelings and the self-evaluation related to VAID use by answering a questionnaire, and their responses were analyzed. The results showed no significant change in the length of time needed nor in the success of peripheral IV line placement when the VAID was used; however, nurses indicated the VAID did help them in deciding where the IV should be inserted. These results suggest that the use of the VAID could be clinically meaningful as an IV training tool and that it could reduce the time needed to select venipuncture sites.