[Improving the Care Accuracy of Percutaneously Inserted Central Catheters Using Objective Structured Clinical Examination].

Approximately 9,800 adverse events related to medical tubing are reported in Taiwan every year. Most neonates in critical condition and premature infants acquire fluid, nutrition, and infusion solution using percutaneously inserted central catheters (PICCs). Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is an objective evaluative tool that may be used to measure the clinical competence of healthcare professionals. Very little is known about the effects of OSCE in Taiwan in terms of improving the accuracy of use of PICCs in nursing care and of reducing unexpected medical tubing removals. The present project aimed to explore the effects of an OSCE course on these two issues in the realms of standard operating procedures, care protocols, and training equipment at a neonatal intermediate unit in Taiwan. The duration of the present study ran from 2/20/2013 to 10/30/2013. The results showed that nurses' knowledge of PICCs improved from 87% to 91.5%; nurses' skill-care accuracy related to PICCs improved from 59.1% to 97.3%; and incidents of unexpected tube removals declined from 63.6% to 16.7%. This project demonstrated that OSCE courses improve the quality of PICC nursing care. Additionally, the instant feedback mechanism within the OSCE course benefited both teachers and students.