Over the last decade, infusion nurses have been increasingly challenged by patients presenting with difficult vascular access, which is often the result of age, comorbidities, or damage from previous failed vascular access devices. Selecting and inserting the right device to meet patients’ clinical needs has become more difficult, and has been worsened by complex organizational factors. Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) continue to be the default devices chosen for short-to-moderate term peripherally compatible intravenous treatments. Although midline catheters (MCs) offer an alternate option, the uptake of this device has been limited due to a lack of clinical data supporting their use. This presentation will provide an overview of recent research involving MCs. It will include a summary of international guidelines and share the results from two recent randomised controlled trials (MCs vs PIVCs; MCs vs PICCs) conducted in Brisbane, Australia.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, learners will be able to: 

• Explain the complications associated with PIVCs, MCs, and PICCs.
• Understand the different types of MCs available and how they meet clinical and organizational needs.
• Describe the importance of MC surveillance.
• Discuss the barriers faced by health care organizations introducing MCs.

CRNI® RUs: This session has been approved for 2 CRNI® recertification units and meets the non INS Meeting criteria.

Contact Hours: This session has been approved for 1 contact hour

Expiration date for receipt of contact hours: August 23, 2026

To receive contact hours for this educational activity, you are required to attend the entire educational activity and complete the evaluation.

The Infusion Nurses Society is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #CEP14209. The certificate must be retained by the attendee for a period of 4 years.