An immunocompromised 7-year-old child was recently discharged home with a peripherally-inserted central line (pic line) for home antibiotic therapy. he has now been brought to the emergency department by his mother and father with signs and symptoms of line sepsis. upon questioning, the mother states that she has been removing the pic dressing daily and washing the site with warm water and a cloth. what nursing diagnosis is most appropriate in this situation?

The most appropriate nursing diagnosis is ineffective family therapeutic regimen management. The nurse should educate the family that new insertion dressings must be changed in 24 hours and they should measure the length of tubing exposed after insertion and at every dressing change as to monitor positioning of tip to prevent infection. This is usually done every week and per hospital’s advice. A peripherally inserted central line can remain in place for 6 months so proper handling and care must be observe.

This is an example of an ineffective family therapeutic regimen management that involves patterns of health care originated from the family of the patient that contradicts medical advice. The parents must then be again educated for the proper home management of their child and should be referred back to the attending physician to manage the line sepsis.