When placing a PICC line, midline catheter, or any vascular access device, informed consent is not just paperwork —it is a critical patient-safety process grounded in ethics, education, and trust. At Optimus Vascular , we follow the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Standards of Practice , which define informed consent as an ongoing, collaborative communication process , not a one-time form. This article explains: What informed consent really  means in vascular access Common real