Towards best practice : procedural characteristics and outcomes of nurse-led central venous catheter insertion

Abstract

This thesis presents a series of six, discrete yet interrelated studies describing the role of specialist nurses in inserting central venous catheters. These studies suggest that appropriate training, credentialing and procedural volume are critical in determining procedural and patient outcomes and potentially more important than professional qualifications. These data are useful in articulating the role of advance practice nursing in promoting the quality and safety of patient care.