THE CVAA
Newsletter of the Canadian Vascular Access Association
Fall 2019
From clinician to patient: Using breathing to ease IV anxiety Chantal Daignault, long-time CVAA member, was a member of the IV team at Scarborough General Hospital and was working on her Master’s degree in 2017, when her life was turned upside down. On her way home from an evening shift, her car was rear-ended, and she sustained a traumatic brain injury, brachial plexus, whiplash, and a concussion. Since then, struggling with cognitive function issues and chronic pain, she is working towards healing and one day hopes to be able to rejoin her team at Scarborough General. After years of being a healthcare professional in the vascular access and infusion therapy field, on that day in 2017, Chantal became a patient. As a patient, Chantal has experienced what it is like to endure many IVs, multiple pokes, and the anxiety that comes with her treatment. Working to minimize the angst that often is associated with IV
insertion as a clinician, Chantal now has a new perspective through first-hand experience in her patient journey. As a way to keep busy and encourage healing of her body and brain, Chantal has become a certified yoga instructor and specializes in meditation and breathwork. After more than 200 hours of training and first-hand use of the skills, Chantal finds breathing techniques or simple meditation to be very effective in reducing anxiety and fear for patients who struggle with IV insertion and other medical procedures. “The breathing doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated,” Chantal says, “for a patient who is feeling anxious, including myself, just a simple Three Part Breath exercise can make a significant difference in focus and ability to endure the procedure.” More than just deep breaths in and out, the Three-Part Breath
(Dirga Pranayama) exercise sends focus to the body and breathing during the insertion or procedure. It is one of the simplest and most calming, grounding breathing exercises you can do to nourish the body and relieve stress, tension, and anxiety. Three Part Breath really works to help focus your attention on the present moment while oxygenating the body and blood flow to the brain. • Step 1: Fill the belly and rib cage up with air. Then sip in just a little more air and let it fill the upper chest, all the way up to the collarbone, causing the area around the heart centre to expand and rise. • Step 2: On each exhale, let the breath go first from the upper chest, allowing the heart centre to sink back down, then from the rib cage, letting the ribs slide closer together. • Step 3: Finally, let the air go from the belly, drawing the navel back towards the spine. A simpler version to use as cueing the subsequent breaths:
Inhale – 1. belly 2. ribs 3. heart centre Exhale – 1. heart centre 2. ribs 3. belly Chantal recommends and uses this method herself as she sits preparing for her appointment. Recently, she has been able to surrender into the frequent fluoroscope injection procedures and find a new focus. As a member of the IV team, Chantal always knew patient anxiety was an issue
and tried to calm them with full explanations of what she was doing and encouraging them to visualize through the pain or anxiousness. However, now, as a patient herself, she sees that focused breathing is the most effective way through.
many more advanced breathing methods that can further help reduce the anxiety associated with IV insertion and related procedures.
The method is simple enough to implement in a clinical setting and Chantal hopes clinicians will consider sharing these breathing techniques with their patients. Depending on how receptive patients are, there are
For more information or to reach out to Chantal Daignault directly, feel free to contact her at desnatlia@ hotmail.com
Get the Guidelines Do you have your copy of the Canadian Vascular Access and Infusion Therapy Guidelines yet? Members get a discount here.
Also, have you been following the Ask the GDG Anything on Sosido? Log in to see the Q&A Forum about the Guidelines and other clinical questions. www.sosido.com
Fall 2019 | Page 2
New Member Spotlights Get to know some of the 150+ new CVAA members who have joined this year so far!
Audrey Tassillo
Why are you passionate about vascular access/infusion therapy? Because for the patient population I am covering (hemodialysis), their access is their lifeline, and I want them to live their best life with that access. What are you most looking forward to this year (personal life)? A family Caribbean Cruise in May to celebrate both my children graduating university with 2 degrees each! – NO MORE TUITIONS TO PAY!
Hemei Tang What is your current role/ institution? Full-time Vascular Access Nurse for the Kidney Care Program at Niagara Health. Where are you located in Canada? St. Catharines, Ontario Why did you join CVAA? This is a fairly new role for me, and I want to expand my knowledge on access and access-related issues. What features of membership are you looking forward to utilizing? Conferences, literature Are you considering writing the CVAA(c) certification exam? Yes – and am terrified!
What is your current role/ institution? I’m a registered nurse working in the acute surgical unit at Eagle Ridge Hospital. Why did you join CVAA? I’d like to be an IV nurse specialist because I’m very interested in IV and PICC line therapy.
Fall 2019 | Page 4
What features of membership are you looking forward to utilizing? CVAA Guidelines, continuing education programs and webinars, CVAA certification, and much information about IV and central line therapy. Are you considering writing the CVAA(c) certification exam? Yes, of course. To be a specialist in IV therapy, I’d like to get my certification and I am studying hard right now! Why are you passionate about vascular access/infusion therapy? Patient safety is always a priority of RNs’ role. Infusion therapy is very different to oral route because most medications, via vascular system, are high alert medication. Patients need to be monitored closely and carefully. Therefore, I’d like to learn more knowledge to build my confidence for managing infusion therapy and maintaining patients’ safety. Furthermore, from my practice at acute settings, I feel a sense of achievement when I do IV initiation successfully. What are you most looking forward to this year? I look forward to getting my CVAA certification, becoming an IV therapy specialist, and looking for a position in outpatient IV therapy. continued on page 6…
Tracy Martin
Where are you located in Canada? I am a Nurse Educator at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I have worked at the Grace Hospital for the last 21 years. I started at the Grace Hospital as a volunteer, completed my diploma program at the school of nursing and obtained my Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Manitoba. Why did you join CVAA? I joined CVAA last year and attended the National Conference in Toronto. I am responsible for developing CVAD policies for my site and teaching CVAD and IV insertion in hospital orientation, to newly hired staff. What features of membership are you looking forward to utilizing? I am most interested in the evidence that supports best practice and working collectively to advance CVAD practices at our sites.
Why are you passionate about vascular access/infusion therapy? I am passionate about patient safety and supporting nurses in developing skills that promote best practice. What are you most looking forward to this summer (personal life)? I am looking forward to hiking and camping in Ontario with my kids this summer.
Kaila Lewis
What is your current role/ institution? My current role is Case Manager/RPN for the Tyendinaga Home & Community Care program for Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Where are you located in Canada? I live and work in my community of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario.
Fall 2019 | Page 6
Why did you join CVAA? I joined CVAA to keep abreast of the latest and greatest news in Canadian vascular access and infusion therapy. What features of membership are you looking forward to utilizing? I look forward to online resources, up-to-date best practices and training material. Are you considering writing the CVAA(C) certification exam? Absolutely. It is part of my fiveyear learning plan. Why are you passionate about vascular access/infusion therapy? I am proud to be able to provide our clients and community members with safe, compassionate and upto-date care while they remain in their own community. Our small nursing team of 5 (2 RNs and 3 RPNs) offer a wide range of services including CADD/ PCA. Because we have CADD pumps, in-home palliative care is a possibility, which makes complementary and traditional therapies much easier to access if a client so wishes.
Join the Board Come join our team! Call for Applications for the 2020–2021 CVAA Board of Directors. This is an extraordinary opportunity for individuals who are passionate about CVAA’s mission and interested in leadership, affecting change and furthering the association. There are several positions available at this time and all CVAA members are invited to apply. Board of Directors positions each carry a two-year term, unless otherwise listed. The available positions for 2020–2021 are: • 2 Directors-At-Large • 1 President Elect (4 year term – President Elect in 2020, President in 2021 and 2022, Past President in 2023) • 1 Treasurer Elect (Treasurer in 2021) Learn more and apply here.
Call for Abstracts Plan to join us in 2020 for our 45th Annual CVAA Conference in Toronto! 20/20: A Clear Vision—Seeing the Guidelines in Practice Conference takes place April 29–May 1, 2020. Abstracts are now being accepted: • Plenary or Concurrent oral presentations • Skills Lab stations • Posters The 2020 CVAA Conference Committee invites you to submit an abstract for your plenary, concurrent, Skills Lab round-table demonstration, or poster presentation at the 45th Annual CVAA Conference. See how to submit and all the information here. Submit here
Fall 2019 | Page 8
Fall CLEs (CVAA Learning Events) September 23, 2019 – NEO Our event “We the North: Champions of Vascular Access” was well attended with more than 110 people in the room (industry reps included). We had
11 industry booths, which is our best turnout ever for industry participation. We invited the local owner of Sudbury’s professional basketball team for opening remarks, which
Speakers Matt Ostroff, Patricia Connick, and France Paquet
helped to tie in our theme for the day. More than a dozen communities from across the northeast were represented with a mix of RPN, RN and 4th-year nursing students… the future of vascular access! Our speakers, Matt Ostroff, France Paquet and Patricia Connick were all relevant, inspiring and current… engaging the audience throughout the morning. Verbal feedback has been positive. Skills labs were supported by industry and all were hands on, critical thinking, practical and applicable. We rounded out the day with a Jeopardy game that was enjoyed by all… based on the applause throughout and the laughter… we even had a sports category for WE the NORTH that was a hit! We believe it was our most successful event to date and for the first time ever, we gave out two “honourary lifetime NEOCVAA membership awards” to Angele Caporicci (as a founding member) and to Debbie Kirkwood (as past treasurer and our decorator for our CLEs ongoing). continued on page 12…
Attendees enjoy hands-on Skills Labs
Fall 2019 | Page 10
October 1, 2019 – Prince Edward Island This year’s PEI CLE was held at the Red Shores in Charlottetown with more than 100 attendees, including speakers and vendors. The theme was “You Are So Vein: Putting Guidelines into Practice”.
We started the day introducing the new 2019 CVAA Guidelines presented by GDG member Tracey Hagan-O’Connor. Our CLE was all about getting back to the basics! Susan Csatari presented “From the Line to the Lab” and Adam
PEI CVAA Chapter Executive Team
Wires presented “Vascular Access Management in the Continuum of Care”. The final presentation was by our local PICC nurses Kim Bowness and Krista Getson highlighting “Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections” and a review of blood cultures. We offered nine hands-on Skills Lab Stations where participants were able to attend four stations. The station topics varied including Peripheral IVs with Ultrasound, Vein Viewer, Reviewing Ports and PICCs, Skin Care with CVADs, and IV Smart Pumps to name a few. There were vendors for the participants to visit and engage with new products. The grand prize for visiting all the vendors was a free Canadian Vascular Access and Infusion Therapy Guidelines purchased by the PEI chapter. We also had some other door prizes including a CVAA National 50% off 2020 membership. It was a great day with attendees from tip to tip of Prince Edward Island! Thank you for coming and all the support we received! continued on page 14…
Speaker Susan Csatari
Attendees visit exhibitors
Fall 2019 | Page 12
October 4, 2019 – Nova Scotia This year’s CLE was held in Truro, NS, and it was a very successful day with great engagement. Our presentations were: “A Passion for Knowledge: The Canadian Guidelines on Vascular Access and Infusion Therapy” by Melanie Cates, “From the Line to the Lab: The Impact of Blood Collection Practice on Patient Outcomes” by Susan Csatari, “Vascular Access Management – Continuum of Care” by Adam Wires, and “Pediatric PICC LINE Home Care Program, IWK” by Sarah King. The afternoon of hands-on Skills Lab Stations included: • Addressing the Maintenance & Protection Challenge • What is the Best Device Selection? • Blood Culture Collection: Clinical Guidelines for Accurate and Timely Results • Pediatric PICC Lines: “Don’t be Afraid”
Speaker Melanie Cates
Speaker Adam Wires
Thank you to our attendees, speakers and exhibitors for your support!
Education Webinar If you missed France Paquet’s September 2019 webinar “Here Hold This For Me”, where she discusses the safety and impact of accidental dislodgement of vascular access devices, and CVAA’s recommendations for securement, see the slides here.
Fall 2019 | Page 14