the incidence of infection.Caring for patients with peripheral intravenous cannulas/catheters (PIVCs) is an important part of the nurse's role and insertion of PIVCs has traditionally been a post-registration nursing skill. With the introduction of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses in 2018, insertion of PIVCs is to be incorporated in pre-registration nursing programmes for all four fields of nursing practice. Although IV cannulation is a commonly performed clinical procedure, it is associated with significant risks and complications, which can cause pain for patients. This article outlines the factors that can cause pain for adult patients requiring a PIVC and recommends that the use of local anaesthetics be more widely considered when inserting a cannula. The identification, prevention and clinical management of commonly occurring painful local complications that can arise post-PIVC insertion are also discussed.Replacing peripheral vascular catheters when clinically indicated rather than routinely has multiple benefits for patients and practitioners. Managing vascular catheters based on clinical indication provides early opportunities for intervention, or catheter removal or replacement. Where clinically indicated, peripheral vascular catheters can be used for a long time, and this is aided by decision-making tools such as the visual infusion phlebitis score and care bundles. Fewer cannulations result in less pain, better patient comfort and a lower risk of infection. For each cannulation avoided, about 20 minutes can be saved for other care activities. Replacing peripheral vascular catheters according to clinical indication can improve patient safety and optimise resource use.BACKGROUND Temporary epicardial pacing wires are inserted after cardiac surgery. However, there are no international guidelines on which to base best practice regarding wire insertion or removal. METHODS Data were collected on patients following cardiopulmonary bypass and analysed in terms of use, duration of use and complications of pacing wires after surgery. RESULTS Wires were inserted in 164 of the 167 patients. Most (74%) did not require pacing. Patients were categorised into those who had aortic valve replacement (AVR) (n=42) and those who did not (n=122). Of the AVR group, 26% (n=11) were pacemaker dependent after surgery and 10% (n=4) required permanent pacemakers. Most pacing wires were removed by day 4. The only noted complication was delayed discharge. CONCLUSION Unused pacing wires are normally removed on day 4, but for 77 (47%) of patients they remained in place longer. Forty patients (24%) had delayed wire removal because of a policy of wire removal during business hours only. Of these 40 patients, 27 (17% of the 77 with delayed removal) had delayed discharge as a result of our wire removal policy.John Tingle, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, discusses some recent reports in maternity care, which can be seen to also to have general application across all clinical specialities.HIGHLIGHTS Ultrasound shows several venous changes in pediatric PIV-containing veins. Changes were visualized by ultrasound in the absence of physical exam findings. Venous luminal narrowing, wall thickening, and thrombosis may explain PIV failure. BACKGROUND Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVs) are routinely used for venous access in hospitalized pediatric patients to administer fluids and medications and to aspirate blood. Unfortunately, PIVs do not remain functional for the entire duration of intravascular need. We hypothesized that PIV malfunction may be related to venous changes that can be visualized with ultrasound (US) imaging. The purpose of this study was to describe and document such changes in pediatric patients. METHODS This Institutional Review Board-approved study was performed at a tertiary pediatric medical center. Patients underwent US scans of their PIV-containing veins, documenting venous characteristics such as depth, diameter, wall thickness, blood flow, valves, branch points, and presence of thrombus. Patient demographics and PIV characteristics were also recorded. RESULTS Data from 30 patients including 12 males and 18 females with a mean age of 11 years were analyzed. Mean venous depth and diameter were 2.07 ± 0.13 and 2.02 ± 0.18 mm, respectively. Mean PIV dwell time at time of evaluation was 3.3 days. PIV-associated venous changes were seen in 73% of accessed veins and included lumen narrowing (47%), wall thickening (33%), presence of thrombus (20%), and absence of blood flow around the PIV tip (40%). CONCLUSION PIV-associated venous changes are seen with US in the majority of pediatric patients with indwelling PIVs but are not necessarily appreciated on physical exam. These changes may help explain the high rate of pediatric PIV device failure. Given the small sample size, further investigation is needed to better characterize PIV-associated venous changes in children.Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses how the Care Quality Commission and the Nursing and Midwifery Council are working during the COVID-19 pandemic.Vascular access device insertion is a common procedure in healthcare, and complications associated with vascular access can be serious and cause considerable patient harm. The use of care bundles to reduce the risks of these complications is well documented. However, the removal of devices, especially those associated with medical adhesive, can cause significant skin injuries, which often could be avoided if this aspect is included in the care bundle and the risk factors are better understood in healthcare. Appeel Sterile is an effective sterile silicone-based medical adhesive remover that is available in a variety of formats. It is the only sterile medical adhesive remover available, which makes it the safest choice for use with vascular access devices.A multidisciplinary advisory group of health professionals involved in dementia care assessed the current evidence base regarding modifiable risk factors (MRFs) for early Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Based on evidence from the published literature and clinical experience, MRFs in four areas were identified where there is evidence to support interventions that may help delay cognitive decline or reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease medical (eg cardiovascular risk factors), psychosocial (eg depression, anxiety, social isolation), lifestyle (eg lack of physical activity, smoking) and nutrition (eg poor diet, lack of micronutrients). Practical guidance on how health professionals, but in particular nurses, may actively seek to address these MRFs in clinical practice was also developed. buy TW-37 Nurses are at the forefront of patient care and, as such, are ideally placed to offer advice to patients that may proactively help mitigate the risks of cognitive decline and the development of Alzheimer's disease.