[Validation of standard operating procedures in nursing care of patients with totally implanted catheters]

Abstract

Care protocols are important technological resources in health practice and should be validated for the sake of scientific credibility in professional practice. This research aimed to validate the items of the proposed standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to access, heparinization and dressing of totally implanted catheters, using concept analysis as proposed by Hoskins. The study involved two phases. In the first, a form was elaborated to validate the SOPs. In the second, the SOPs contents were subject to expert validation. Suggestions addressed aspects like reformulations, adding actions to make them clearer and more comprehensive, the order of procedure steps and the material to adapt the instrument. Further research is needed to orient professionals, mainly regarding the heparinization of catheters and the first dressing change after the access, with a view to standardizing conducts based on safe scientific evidence.