PICC Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the PICC exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 PICC Exam Format at a Glance
📚 PICC Topics to Study (37)
✍️ Sample PICC Questions & Answers
1. What solution is used to flush PICC lines?
To maintain patency and prevent occlusion of PICC lines, they are routinely flushed with either normal saline or a dilute heparin solution. Normal saline is used to clear medication residue and prevent intraluminal clotting, while heparin, an anticoagulant, is often used for catheters that are not in continuous use to prevent thrombus formation within the lumen. The specific solution depends on facility policy and catheter type.
2. Which element is essential in a PICC education documentation form to meet Joint Commission standards?
Joint Commission requires documentation of the date, teaching method, content, and evidence of learner understanding.
3. During EKG-guided PICC tip confirmation, which waveform change indicates the tip has reached the cavoatrial junction?
EKG guidance relies on P-wave changes: amplitude increases as the tip nears the SVC/atrial junction and becomes biphasic upon entering the right atrium, guiding the clinician to withdraw slightly to the CAJ.
4. The azygos vein, into which a PICC can malposition, enters the SVC at approximately which vertebral level?
The azygos vein arches over the right main bronchus and drains into the posterior aspect of the SVC at approximately the T4 vertebral level.
5. When a PICC professional encounters an unexpected result during a procedure, the FIRST action should be to:
Stopping to assess unexpected results is critical for safety and quality.
6. What is the minimum recommended saline flush volume for a PICC after each use per INS guidelines?
A minimum of 10 mL of normal saline is recommended to flush PICCs after each use to clear the long lumen of blood and medication residue.