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You’re flushing, but are you checking for a positive blood return? Always aspirate for a positive blood return prior to administering medications and solutions1 “Vascular access devices [should be] flushed and aspirated for a blood return prior to each infusion to assess catheter function and prevent complications.”1 —INS Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, 2016, page S77, standard 40.1 “Central vascular access devices (CVADs) [should be] regularly assessed for patency and proper function as defined by the ability to flush the catheter without resistance and the ability to yield a blood return.”1 —INS Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, 2016, page S104, standard 48.1 “During the initial flush, slowly aspirate the VAD for blood return that is the color and consistency of whole blood, which is an important component of assessing catheter function prior to administration of medications and solutions.”1 —INS Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, 2016, page S77, standard 40, practice criterion D1 Promptly addressing catheter occlusion is a goal of catheter management2 “Catheter salvage is the preferred approach for managing thrombosed catheters as it helps to ensure limited interruption of therapy, reduced risk of trauma to the patient, decreased risk of complications, and decreased costs.”2 —Haire WD, Herbst SF. J Vasc Access Dev. Summer 2000:1-82 Are you documenting patency? Key societies recommend documenting catheter patency “Documentation includes, but is not limited to: results of CVAD functionality assessment including patency, absence of signs and symptoms of complications, lack of resistance when flushing, and presence of a blood return upon aspiration.”1 —INS Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, 2016, page S29, standard 10, practice criterion A10 Nursing documentation should include presence of blood return or other body fluid and the ability to flush.3 —Access Device Guidelines: Recommendations for Nursing Practice and Education, 2011 Documentation should indicate whether patency was confirmed prior to administration of medications and solutions Patency is confirmed when the line: Flushes easily, without resistance Aspirates easily, with brisk, free-flowing blood return References: 1. Infusion Nurses Society. Infusion therapy standards of practice. J Infus Nurs. 2016;39(suppl 1):S1-S159. 2. Haire WD, Herbst SF. J Vasc Access Dev. Summer 2000:1-8. 3. Camp-Sorrell D, ed. Access Device Guidelines: Recommendations for Nursing Practice and Education. 3rd ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society; 2011. © 2016 Genentech USA, Inc. All rights reserved. CAT/081815/0050(1) Printed in USA.