>> Instructor: Instruction training video,
Bathing with an IV Line.
This video has been provided
by the Johns Hopkins Home Care Group
and the Johns Hopkins Division of Infectious Diseases.
Thank you in advance for watching this video.
You have been discharged from the hospital with an IV line.
This IV line is usually inserted in your arm
such as PICC lines or midlines
or can be inserted in your chest
such as with Hickman catheters.
It is important that you understand
how to care for your IV line at home
to prevent any complications from occurring.
This video will provide you with some tips and tricks
in managing your IV line at home when bathing.
Please watch this video as many times as you need.
If you have a caregiver, family member,
or a friend helping you, please have them watch it as well.
Please note that your IV line can lead to an infection.
It is important that you keep your IV line
and the dressing over that line
as clean, dry, and intact as possible.
The IV line dressing itself will be changed
by your home health nurse every seven days.
We do not want to change the dressing
more often than every seven days
unless the dressing is dirty
or is no longer sticking to the skin
to decrease the risk of infection.
If the dressing is not sticking to the skin well
or it is dirty, then there is a risk for infection.
This is why it is important to care
for your IV line dressing.
Bathing is one of the more challenging
daily activities to do when you have an IV line.
If you are connected to an electronic pump,
try to bathe when you are disconnected from the pump
like when you are changing the medication bag.
However, please check with your nurse or pharmacist
to make sure it's okay to disconnect your pump
from your medication.
If it is not okay to disconnect your pump
from your medication,
please make sure to cover the pump before bathing
because the pump is not waterproof
and it could be damaged if exposed to water.
Whether or not you have a pump, when you bathe,
make sure the dressing and the line
are protected from getting wet.
No matter what, you should avoid any direct flow of water
on your IV line.
Don't let the line get under the water.
If your shower has a detachable shower head,
use the shower head to keep the flow of water
away from your IV line.
To cover the dressing over the IV line,
we recommend the following methods.
First, you can purchase a special cover which is designed
specifically to protect your IV line when bathing.
These coverings work best on IV lines in the arm
like PICCs or midlines.
If used correctly, these protective coverings
will help to protect your IV line from becoming wet.
If you decide to use one of these items,
they are not provided by your home infusion agency
and are generally not covered under your insurance plan.
You can search the internet for these devices
or ask your nurse or pharmacist
for recommendations if desired.
Please be sure to read the instructions provided
with these devices and use the items as directed.
Second, you could use a special form of cling wrap
that has a sticky layer.
One brand name is Press'n Seal wrap.
This product can be purchased at most grocery stores.
Either wrap the cling wrap around your arm
covering your entire dressing and tubing
or take the cling wrap and place it over your chest line.
Make sure the cling wrap sticks
to both your skin and itself.
The cling wrap should be secured
but not tight enough to impact the device
or cause any discomfort.
You can use loose rubber bands
above and below the IV line in your arm
to make even more certain the cling wrap stays in place.
A third option is to use a clean, long,
narrow plastic bag with the bottom cut out of it
like an umbrella bag.
Do not use a bread bag or a newspaper bag
as these may contain crumbs or outdoor dirt.
Get your clean umbrella bag and cut out the bottom.
Hold this bag in place over the IV line in your arm
with rubber bands at the top and bottom of the bag.
Again, make sure the rubber bands are not too tight.
If it causes discomfort,
this may be a sign that it is too tight
and is cutting off blood flow.
It may take a few tries to get a solution
that works for you.
If you need any assistance,
please contact your home health nurse.
Good job!
Enjoy your day.