How to Care for a Central Line Catheter-Changing the Dressing

1. Wash hands and apply clean gloves
2. Mask self and client
3. Remove old dressing in the direction the catheter was inserted
4. Inspect site for signs/symptoms of infection
5. Remove clean gloves and wash hands
6. Open sterile dressing kit
7. Apply sterile gloves
8. Clean site with alcohol swabs in a circular motion, allow to dry
9. Repeat using povidone-iodine swabs
10. Dress site using a transparent dressing
11. Secure tubing with tape
12. Label and date the new dressing
13. Dispose of supplies and wash hands

(Deadly infections, 2010)