Development of Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Vascular Access Education for the Nurse Anesthetist: A Quality Improvement Project

Ultrasound-guided peripheral vascular access was rarely used by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) within a large academic hospital since the use of ultrasound had not been common practice among CRNAs. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop an educational intervention to increase the use of ultrasound for peripheral vascular access among CRNAs by 20% while also improving their knowledge, comfort, and confidence in using the technology. A pre-intervention survey revealed limited use of ultrasound for peripheral vascular access by practicing CRNAs, despite benefits of enhanced patient care demonstrated in the literature. The educational intervention included a virtual learning module, hands-on simulated training, and pre- and post-intervention knowledge assessments to measure CRNAs’ skills in ultrasound-guided techniques. Post-intervention results demonstrated a 64% increase in ultrasound use, with the average monthly rate of individual usage rising from 2.1 to 3.4 times. Additionally, participants’ knowledge scores improved from 52% to 82%, and they reported increased confidence with performing ultrasound-guided vascular access procedures. While certain barriers, like lack of access to ultrasound machines and time constraints persisted after the intervention, this education effectively addressed individual knowledge and skill gaps. This quality improvement project underscores the value of structured educational programs in advancing the use of ultrasound technology in healthcare. This highlights the importance of ongoing training and education to sustain and improve CRNAs’ knowledge and skills.