Cnas and sheath caths

I am a cna and have been at my hospital for 2 yrs now. Last week my Lpn told me to pull an Iv, when I got in the room I realized it wasn't an Iv but an upper arm sheath cath. Having never seen one I asked my Lpn if I wa able to pull it, she stated I was. Still being unsure I asked my rn who also said to go pull it. Later I was talking to another nurse who said I was absolutely not suppose to remove those. It don't bleed anymore than a reg Iv site, but I'm worried I'm going to get in trouble even though I was told by the nurse. Should I be worried?

a cna
Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!This may depend on your facility policy. You need to look it up. However that is called a PICC line and everywhere I have worked the nurse is the one to discontinue these lines.Only registered nurses have the qualifications to care for or remove a PICC line from a patient - See more at: PICC*Line Removal |*How to Remove a PICC Line | Clinical Nursing Skills

Well this was smaller(shorter) than a pic line. I'm wondering would it fall back on me if I was unaware I wasn't suppose to do t, after being ordered by the nurse to do it

As far as I know, discontinuation of IV's should not be delegated to Certified Nursing Assistants.

Quote from RN2BE2016As far as I know, discontinuation of IV's should not be delegated to Certified Nursing Assistants.

If this was a sheath cath, put in to administer TpA directly to the subclavian, only an RN or MD can pull those. Likewise PICC lines because of infection risk.

I interviewed in a 600+ bed hospital unit where the CNAs were pulling femoral sheaths. Well, sure, pulling the sheath is a snap ... recognizing and managing the complications may not be. The RN was within ear shot in the hallway, but I didn't want any part of that scene.

I wouldn't allow my techs to discontinue my Peripheral inserted IVs unless I have worked with this tech for years upon years upon years( you get the point). Anything above the AC, absolutely not! These lines require a much more thorough assessment once d/c'd and should have more detailed documentation for the risk of hemorrhage, infection, etc. Some techs have such an increased workload, I wouldn't delegate anything he/she does not have the authority to document.I have seen techs managing IVs, starting IVs, drawing labs, managing femoral caths, etc. within my time....These aren't my patients, but I raise eyebrows for patient safety.

Quote from msjellybeanThis is facility specific. My hospital allows our techs do d/c PIVs, provided they show us the catheter before disposing of it. Since that rarely ever happens, most RNs d/c their own lines.

Quote from BiffbradfordI interviewed in a 600+ bed hospital unit where the CNAs were pulling femoral sheaths. Well, sure, pulling the sheath is a snap ... recognizing and managing the complications may not be. The RN was within ear shot in the hallway, but I didn't want any part of that scene.

Could it have been a midline IV?? Either way, if I didn't know what it was, I would not have removed it as a CNA, LPN or RN without clarification.

That is tough to be put in that position, especially if unit politics are involved. When in doubt go with the gut. Where I have worked CNAs and Techs were no allowed to remove invasive devices, that was the RNs job, but it sounds like this isn't universal, so I would check with your manager or Educator.