ARE YOU WELL INFORMED about evidence-based guidelines for preventing infections associated with peripheral and central venous access devices? Help us gather information about infection control practices nationwide by taking this brief survey. We'll publish results in an upcoming issue of Nursing2009.

You can take this survey online at http://www.nursing2009.com; it's fast, easy, and free. Or photocopy and fax this page to 215-367-2155 or mail to Nursing2009 I.V. Infection Control Survey, 323 Norristown Rd., Suite 200, Ambler, PA 19002. Deadline for responses is April 30, 2009.

All questions in this survey pertain to your primary work setting. Share the survey with your colleagues and encourage them to participate too. If you have additional comments or observations, please add them on a separate sheet.

1. According to the Infusion Nurses Society standards of practice, peripheral-short I.V. catheters in adults should be replaced

[white square] every 48 hours or as needed.

[white square] every 72 hours or as needed.

[white square] once a week or as needed.

2. According to guidelines from OSHA and other experts, the best sharp safety device is one that

[white square] works when the user takes action (such as pressing a button).

[white square] automatically activates the safety feature (passive device).

3. Do you routinely aseptically clean the I.V. access port/needleless connector with an approved antiseptic solution immediately before access?

[white square] yes

[white square] no

4. In the past year, have you had a contaminated sharps injury?

[white square] yes, one

[white square] yes, more than one

[white square] no

[white square] no, but I don't handle sharps in my job

5. According to research, the device most likely to be the cause of a reported sharp injury is

[white square] a lancet.

[white square] a winged (butterfly) needle.

[white square] a disposable needle/syringe.

[white square] an I.V. needle/catheter device.

6. When central venous catheters (CVCs) are being inserted, what percentage of the time does staff use maximal barrier precautions (sterile gloves and gowns, large sterile drape, caps, masks)?

[white square] less than 25% of the time

[white square] 25% to 50% of the time

[white square] 51% to 75% of the time

[white square] 76% to 100% of the time

7. According to CDC guidelines, the best skin preparation to use before insertion of a central or peripheral I.V. catheter in adults with no known allergies is

[white square] povidone-iodine (Betadine).

[white square] povidone-iodine and alcohol.

[white square] chlorhexidine gluconate.

[white square] alcohol alone.

[white square] alcohol and zinc pyrithione (Triseptin).

8. Antimicrobial ointments have been shown to reduce nonhemodialysis CVC infection rates.

[white square] true

[white square] false

9. To prevent infections, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) should be replaced

[white square] every 72 to 96 hours.

[white square] every 30 days.

[white square] every 3 months.

[white square] PICCs shouldn't be routinely replaced to prevent infections.

10. Clean, dry, and intact transparent dressings on CVCs in adults should be changed

[white square] every 2 days.

[white square] every 5 days.

[white square] every 7 days.

[white square] only when the catheter is changed.

11. Does your facility have an infusion or vascular access team?

[white square] yes

[white square] no

[white square] I don't work in an acute care facility.

12. How should you clean a needless connector before use?

[white square] wipe once across the top with an alcohol pad

[white square] wipe back and forth multiple times across the top with an alcohol pad

[white square] wrap an alcohol pad around the device and move in a circular motion multiple times

13. Administration sets used for intermittent medications (connected and disconnected for each dose) should be changed

[white square] every 24 hours.

[white square] every 96 hours.

[white square] every 72 hours.

[white square] with each dose.

14. After you disconnect an intermittent administration set, what do you do with the set while it's not in use?

[white square] place a new dead-end cap on the male luer end

[white square] place a new capped needle on the male luer end

[white square] place nothing on the male luer end

[white square] attach the male luer end to an injection port on the same tubing

15. Obtain 0.9% sodium chloride for I.V. catheter flushing from

[white square] a bag of I.V. fluid hanging in the medication room.

[white square] a multiple-dose vial.

[white square] a prefilled syringe.

16. Did your prelicensure nursing program include infusion therapy theory and supervised clinical practice?

[white square] yes

[white square] no

[white square] unsure/don't recall

17. How often do you receive any kind of education or training related to infusion therapy at your place of employment?

[white square] at least annually

[white square] sporadically

[white square] every 1 to 3 years

[white square] never

18. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you that you answered most of the questions correctly? (Please circle a number.)

1 not confident

2

3

4

5 very confident

19. What's your age?

[white square] under 21

[white square] 31 to 40

[white square] over 50

[white square] 21 to 30

[white square] 41 to 50

20. In what year did you graduate from nursing school (generic nursing program)?

_____

21. How many years of nursing experience do you have?

[white square] less than 1

[white square] 11 to 15

[white square] 1 to 5

[white square] 16 to 20

[white square] 6 to 10

[white square] over 20

22. What's your highest educational level?

[white square] student

[white square] BSN/BS

[white square] LPN/LVN

[white square] MSN/MS

[white square] RN diploma

[white square] doctoral degree

[white square] AD

[white square] other (please specify)_____

23. Are you certified in a specialty?

[white square] yes (please specify)_____

[white square] no

24. What's your primary clinical area?

[white square] medical-surgical

[white square] pediatrics

[white square] emergency

[white square] rehabilitation

[white square] geriatrics

[white square] oncology

[white square] OR/perioperative

[white square] infection control

[white square] intensive care/critical care

[white square] other (please specify)_____

25. In what setting do you usually work?

[white square] hospital

[white square] home healthcare/community health

[white square] long-term care/subacute care

[white square] ambulatory/outpatient services/clinic

[white square] office nursing

[white square] other (please specify)_____

26. In what state or province do you work?

_____