Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Placement versus Physician-led PICC Insertion: A Literature Review

Reliable vascular access remains essential in modern clinical practice, with peripherally inserted central catheters representing an important option for safe and effective medium- and long-term administration of intravenous therapy. In many healthcare systems, specialized Vascular Access Teams, often nurse-led, have been introduced to improve insertion efficiency, safety, and service organization delivery. A descriptive literature review was conducted using the databases Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed to evaluate nurse-led versus physician-led peripherally inserted central catheters insertion models and the role of vascular access teams. Search terms included combinations of nurse-led, physician-led, vascular access team, intracavitary electrocardiography, tip confirmation and global development. English-language studies involving adult populations and focusing on insertion success, organizational outcomes, and included vascular access service models. A literature review identified that nurse-led vascular access team models achieve high insertion success rates, low complication rates, shorter waiting times, and improved clinical workflow efficiency. Comparative studies reported outcomes comparable to, or better than, traditional physician-led insertion models. The use of intracavitary electrocardiography improved bedside catheter tip confirmation accuracy, reduced reliance on fluoroscopy and chest radiography, shortened procedure times, and lowered healthcare costs. Evidence suggests that multidisciplinary vascular access team supported by modern technologies such as intracavitary electrocardiography represent an effective and progressive model of peripherally inserted central catheters service delivery. Procedural quality depends mainly on training, competency, experience, and adherence to standardized protocols rather than professional background alone. Further multicentre prospective studies are needed to evaluate long-term clinical and economic outcomes.