Small Change, Big Impact: Mastisol® Added to a Central Line Dressing Protocol A podium poster presentation at the 2024 Association of Vascular Access Annual Scientific Meeting described noteworthy time savings for the Vascular Access Team (VAT) at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. The authors, Zachary Lassiter, BSN, RN, Marisa Brown, BSN, RN, and Charles…
Putting the Infusion Nurses Society Standards into Practice The Infusion Nurses Society’s (INS) Standards of Practice set the benchmark for infusion administration and care of various access devices, including intravenous, subcutaneous, intraosseous, and intraspinal devices. Recognized globally, these Standards are the gold standard for evaluating the quality of practice, service, and education in infusion care.…
Detach with Ease: The Critical Role of Adhesive Removers for Diabetes Devices Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have reshaped diabetes management, significantly improving the quality of life for people dealing with this chronic condition. Discussions about CGM devices typically focus on the technology itself – the ability to continuously monitor blood sugar levels, the accuracy…
Keep It Simple Specialist: One PICC, One Securement Device, Until End of Need At the AVA 2023 Scientific Meeting during the Vascular Access Talk sessions, Michelle (Mickey) Hawes, RN, DNP, CRNI, VA-BC, ACRP-CP followed-up her 2022 securement presentation and dove into the latest peer-reviewed data on SecurAcath. Affectionately referred to as the Clatterbridge Study, because…
Mickey Hawes Clatterbridge Study Interview In this 3-minute interview, Mickey Hawes, RN, DNP, CRNI, VA-BC, ACRP-CP discusses a 2023 article published in the Journal of Vascular Access, “A retrospective study of subcutaneous anchor securement systems in oncology patients”, also referred to as “The Clatterbridge Study”, and what it means for patients with a peripherally-inserted central…
Unlocking the Power of Vascular Access Teams: A Strategy to Reduce Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections The reduction and ultimate prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) is a key step to improving overall inpatient outcomes. And specially trained vascular access clinicians are key to making that reality possible. Bloodstream infections are a life-threatening challenge to the patient…
Study Proves Gum Mastic Liquid Adhesive Enhances LVAD Dressing Integrity Heart failure is a growing public health issue, and for those with advanced or end-stage heart failure, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are a true technological lifeline. Alongside heart transplants, LVADs have become the standard of care for patients with advanced heart failure, serving as…
Hospital Onset Bacteremia (HOB): Let’s Talk About ReportingGuest Author: Michelle DeVries MPH, CIC, VA-BC, CPHQ, FAPIC For several years there has been a lot of chatter about potential future expansion of bloodstream infection surveillance to move beyond only Central Line-Associated Bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and expand to include all hospital onset bacteremia (HOB). As this gets…
Wednesday Workshop Summary: Growing a Vascular Access Specialty Team (VAST) – One Step at a Time A vascular access specialist model has proven to reduce healthcare acquired complications including catheter-associated infections.1 A specialty team approach also is supported by evidence-based guidelines.2 Despite the evidence for improved patient safety, not all hospitals have a dedicated Vascular…
Vascular Access Device Pistoning: The Problem and SolutionGuest Author: Michelle (Mickey) Hawes, RN, DNP, CRNI, VA-BC, ACRP-CP Pistoning is a term used in the vascular access specialty to describe the small, repeated movement of a peripheral vascular access device (PVAD) or central venous access device (CVAD) in and out at the insertion site. Movement may…