Clinical governance, related documents and references

Professional accountability

All nurses and doctors are personally accountable for their actions and omissions and are professionally accountable for the patient assessment and treatment, including the care and maintenance of CVADs.

Continuous professional development

As with any area of practice, every nurse and doctor is responsible for ensuring they maintain their knowledge and skill around their practice. All health professionals are expected to keep themselves up to  date with current best practice in the management of CVADs. The line manager/clinical lead should ensure that staff working with CVADs undertake the CVAD LearnPro module on an annual basis.

Line manager / professional lead

To ensure safe and effective practice, the line manager is responsible for working closely with the registered nurse or doctor caring for a patient with a CVAD and ensuring adequate clinical support in relation to supervision.

CVAD care and maintenance

The person accepting responsibility for the care and maintenance of CVADs must ensure that the documentation record of the care is accurate and clear.

Infection Control Guidelines

G083 Guideline for Obtaining Peripheral Blood Cultures in Adults

G082 Consent Policy for Health Professionals

G109 Disposal of Chemotherapy Waste in the Community Guideline

ADTC 194 Neutropenic Sepsis Guideline

CVAD Competency Pack

G004b Flushing and Locking Volumes For Tesio CVADs in Haemato-Oncology

G124 Care and maintenance of Midline Catheters

Patient group directions (PGDs) for CVADs:

HBN 21051: 0.9% sodium chloride (CVADs)

HBN 21224: heparin sodium chloride (CVADs)

1. Bard Access Systems (2009) PowerPort* Implanted Port System Nursing Guide, USA: Bard Access Systems Inc.
2. British Medical Association. Illustrated Medical Dictionary 2nd Ed. 2007 DK India
3. Dougherty, L. (2006) Central Venous Access Devices Care and Management   Oxford: Blackwell Publishing
4. Illustrated Medical Dictionary. The British Medical Association 2nd Ed. 2007. DK India.
5. Mallet J (2000). The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Procedure Vascular Access Devices: Insertion and Management. Chapter 44. London Blackwell Science
6. Maki, D.G., Mermel, L., Genthner, D., Hua, S., Chiacchierni, R.P. (2000) “An Evaluation of BIOPATCH* Antimicrobial Dressing compared to routine standard care in the prevention of catheter related bloodstream infection” Johnson & Johnson Wound management, a division of Ethicon, Inc Data on file JJM1553/0106 S
7. Biopatch Literature
8. Chloroprep Literature
9. SecurAcath Literature
10. Vygon TKO Literature
11. SecurAcath Insertion Video
12. SecurAcath Care and Maintenance Video
13. SecurAcath Removal Video
14. Biopatch Video