PERIPHERAL VENIPUNCTURE PRACTICES PERFORMED BY NURSING PROFESSIONALS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Objective: The study's main purpose has been to characterize the peripheral venipuncture practices performed by nursing professionals providing care to pediatric and geriatric patients in a Brazilian Southern university hospital. Methods: It is a descriptive and observational study with a quantitative approach, which was performed in a Brazilian Southern university hospital over the period from December 2015 to June 2016, counting with 14 nursing professionals who were performing peripheral venipuncture in children and elderly people at the study's data collection time. Results: A total of 20 observations were made for the elderly group and 5 for the pediatric group. During all observations there was some divergence with the theoretical orientation that could result in harm to the patient and/or professional. Conclusion: By carrying out this study, it was noticed a variation of the technique and divergences between the practiced actions, therefore, underlining the importance of defining standard procedures and techniques based on scientific reasoning to promote patient safety.