THE CVAA
Newsletter of the Canadian Vascular Access Association
Fall 2021
New Member Spotlights Get to know some of the 150+ new CVAA members who have joined this year so far!
Kim Fynn What is your current role/institution? I am currently working in Arnprior, Ontario (about 30 minutes west of Ottawa) with a small and mighty OR team and their medical day care. Previously, my start was in Louisiana, then a move to Dallas to work at Baylor University Medical Center. I was mentored and encouraged by a Toronto Charge Nurse at Baylor, Henry Mann, to leave the medicine unit and join the hematology, oncology unit and was cross trained to work in the bone marrow transplant unit. During my time, our department was the resource at night for Port-a-cath accessing, troubleshooting and educating our fellow nurses in various units regarding all central lines. PICCs were not used later, when the product improved. I then took a position at Mayo Clinic Arizona to work in the Hem/Onc/stem cell, organ transplant unit, later ambulatory infusion, which has been the majority of my career, outpatient stem cell transplant, infusions of all kinds for all specialities seen at
the campus. I was trained as a PICC nurse for eight to ten years, and also became a member of the INS with my CRNI certification and also kept current with AVA, as it was combined with INS. Due to the high volume of IVIG administered at our facility, I was also a member of the Immunoglobulin Nursing Society. Why did you join CVAA? I joined CVAA due to your partnership with AVA and INS. There are a lot of learning opportunities, and the conferences are fantastic! I wanted to keep current on new topics, policies, and education. What features of membership are you looking forward to utilizing? I do find it difficult in smaller community hospitals to be heard regarding vascular access, so I wanted to join to be among like-minded nurses and find articles supporting what I have been trained to do—the improvement on the healthcare experience for the patient and the reduction in costs for healthcare. Are you considering writing the CVAA(c) certification exam? Currently I am preparing for the OR certification and I plan to obtain my CVAA certification following completion of the OR program. Why are you passionate about vascular access/ infusion therapy? I am passionate about vascular access/infusion therapy as indicated by the number of years I had served in Arizona. I was part of a team that continued on page 3…
Consider use of an antithrombogenic PICC to reduce thrombosis risk.
1,2,3,4
Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice 8th Edition, Infusion Nurses Society
Use methods for identifying CVAD tip location during the insertion procedure (ie, “real-time”) due to. 38-47
Greater accuracy More rapid initiation of infusion therapy Reduced costs
1. Kleidon T, Ullman AJ, Zhang L, et al. How does your PICCOMPARE? a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing various PICC mate-rials in pediatrics. J Hosp Med. 2018;13(8):517-525. doi:10.12788/ jhm.2911 2. Ullman AJ, Bulmer AC, Dargaville TR, Rickard CM, Chopra V. Antithrombogenic peripherally inserted central catheters: overview of efficacy and safety. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2019;16(1):25-33. doi:10.1080/17434440.2019.1555466 3. McDiarmid S, Scrivens N, Carrier M, et al. Outcomes in a nurse-led peripherally inserted central catheter program: a retrospec¬tive cohort study. CMAJ Open. 2017;5(3):E535-E539. doi:10.9778/ cmajo.20170010 4. Hill J. Clinical evaluation of the Navilyst PICC. Paper present¬ed at Association for Vascular Access Annual Scientific Meeting; September 16-19, 2017; Phoenix, AZ. *AngioDynamics, the AngioDynamics logo, C3 Wave, the C3 Wave logo, BioFlo, and the BioFlo logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of AngioDynamics, Inc., an affiliate or subsidiary. ©2021 AngioDynamics, Inc. GL/VA/AD/1204 Rev 01 10/2021
delivered safe, effective, efficient healthcare to a variety of people, reduced time for inpatient admissions, reduced infection rates due to less time in the hospital and created seamless healthcare management for chronic disease and keeping those individuals out of emergency rooms to allow ERs to respond to acute emergencies. What are you most looking forward to this year (personal life)? As for personal life, when I get time, I kayak in the summer, snowshoe in the winter. The COVID-19 isolation did not impact me mentally, as I was able to enjoy quiet time at the cottage with those who matter to me the most, so I am making up for lost time being away for so long.
Amélie Samson What is your current role/ institution? I am a laboratory educator at the Ingram School of Nursing (McGill University). Where are you located in Canada? Montreal (Quebec) Why did you join CVAA? PIV insertion is my favourite skill. I’ve worked in an emergency department for six years and was used to performing IV insertion regularly. Now, I teach students about PIV, CVAD, phlebotomy, etc. I am eager to know the best practices and learn
about the latest research for my own curiosity, and to deliver quality education. What features of membership are you looking forward to utilizing? I’m looking forward to using the guidelines and best practices to orient my teaching. I also really like the toolkit as it is a great visual aid to remember key elements. Are you considering writing the CVAA(c) certification exam? Yes. Not right now with my busy schedule, but I would really like to complete the certification exam as soon as I have more time. Why are you passionate about vascular access/ infusion therapy? As mentioned above, it is my favourite skill and one I would perform every day while working in emergency. When I started teaching, I read more and more about best practices and learned such interesting facts about vascular accesses that were not shared or known in my previous department. Knowing so much more, I now want to keep myself up to date and share what I’m learning with students and other nurses to increase patient safety. What are you most looking forward to this year (personal life)? This year, I’m continuing my studies (part-time) and beginning my master’s project regarding debriefing in simulation.
Give a Referral, Get a Reward! We are improving our Member Referral Program. When you encourage your colleagues to join CVAA, we want to thank you! For every NEW MEMBER who submits your name as their referral when joining, you will receive a 15% discount on your next year’s membership (to a maximum of 60%). Additionally, the NEW MEMBER you refer, gets a discount code towards a purchase of the CVAA Guidelines. WIN-WIN!
Fall 2021 | Page 3
Have you checked out the Industry Education Portal yet? CVAA recognizes the valuable source of clinical education that is provided by our industry Corporate Members, and we wish to capture and provide up-to-date access to this information for our members. The new CVAA Industry Education Portal will bring together the educational features and clinical instruction available from our Corporate Members housed in one place on the CVAA website. The Portal will further our mission of promoting education, partnerships, knowledge, and research in vascular access and infusion therapy for optimal patient outcomes. The following companies have provided content and education for our CVAA members: 3M, BD, Teleflex, B. Braun, Eloquest Healthcare, and Fujifilm Sonosite. Watch for updates and highlighted content!
Save the Date for the 2022 CVAA Conference to be held in Charlottetown, PEI and virtually!
Fall 2021 | Page 4
Introducing the CVAA Points Program! Over the next little while, we will have a variety of brief surveys to send to membership. For each one you participate in, you will receive a CVAA Point code that can be redeemed for prize draws. Prizes include: • 2022 CVAA Membership • Copy of the CVAA Guidelines • Starbucks or other coffee shop gift cards • and more! You can find all the available surveys here and if you fill out the survey, you will get a point code that can be redeemed online before December 12, 2021.
REDEEM POINT CODES HERE The first prize draws will be made the week of December 13, 2021.
Ultrasound-Guided One-Stick Standard A Better Way to Gain Vascular Access
Visit us at www.sonosite.com to learn more. SONOSITE and the SONOSITE logo are trademarks and registered trademarks of FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc. in various jurisdictions. FUJIFILM is a trademark and registered trademark of FUJIFILM Corporation in various jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2020 FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc. All rights reserved. Subject to change.
Fall 2021 | Page 5
MKT03480 Rev A 4/2020
The first survey was: How did we do? CVAA has worked to pivot in the face of COVID and offer our members resources and education virtually until we are able to meet together at our conference and chapter events. We wanted to hear your thoughts about what we implemented this year. Here are some results: What could we offer that would improve your CVAA experience? • Additional online courses as much as possible that provide flexible delivery options :) • Although repeating sessions from the conference was a good idea, I would also like to see new information. I also would like to see/hear about more advanced subjects in VAIN, such as I saw today relating to non-cytotoxic infusates and vascular harm. • At this point nothing comes to mind. Feel really well done. Work itself leaves one tired and drained, so time is factor to manage or keep on top. Love the Friday wrap ups. • Been great, but I miss the inperson conference • Being industry certified with a clinical background, I really appreciate the hands-on virtual labs • Combination of virtual and in-person conferences would give choices for learning • Conferences that I can attend at different times. I always seem to be working when there are some scheduled and I would love to still be able to enjoy them! continued on page 7…
Fall 2021 | Page 6
• Continue to offer virtual educational opportunities • Continue to offer webinars and videos for later viewing. This really helps with a busy schedule. • Develop more practical implementation tools—the ones that are developed are excellent. More would be appreciated! • Even more educational events • Evening programs or recorded programs that can be viewed when convenient • For a virtual conference have a photo and description of the vendors’ items that they have to discuss, similar to a table or set-up of products at a live conference. I found when I would click onto a vendor, I had no idea who some of them were or what they made. It would have been nice for starting a conversation. • Have sessions scheduled for weekends, so would have more of opportunity to attend • I don’t know, I think you did well in COVID context! • I feel what is offered is great! • I find it difficult to get to the questions that members are asking...but I think it’s me not you! • I loved the hand-workshops, ability to actually use products is great! • I sometimes get lost with the number of CVAA emails and I inadvertently missed
opportunities b/c I couldn’t prioritize the information being sent. • I think you are doing a great job. • I think you are doing a great job. • I think you guys are doing a great job. Thanks for keeping us up with best practice • I would love to see some topics specific for nurses inserting PICC lines—I feel the past year or so I have heard a lot about preventing infections and care/ maintenance, but I don’t always feel there is a lot offered for the inserter. Maybe something with ultrasound use, tip placement/3CG, etc. • I’m on the west coast, so webinars are often in the middle of my workday. I can only participate once they are recorded. Varying times would be helpful • In person when safe to do so. Hope we can have it here in Vancouver, BC soon. • IT portion of the national conference—couldn’t get on and prizes people found out how to get them fast for points • Looking forward to in-person events again. • More online education • More freebies • More of the hands-on sessions? They were helpful.
Fall 2021 | Page 7
• More short webinars that we could watch for points and learning at our convenience • More training or webinar about infection and difference between all infection (intra luminal, extra luminal) • More webinars and sample products • New therapies • Nothing really—many opportunities have been provided and more are being offered. I need to explore the new industry portal • NURSES TO HELP OUT ON THE FLOOR... I know this is not possible, but today this would be great:) – CVAA has been very supportive with all the changes • Offer both virtual and inperson conference next year, as we are unable to close the AVAS/PICC service. Offer halfor single-day registration, if possible. • Offer more short online presentations • Offer programs various times during the day • Please continue what you did!! • Pleased with what is being provided. Like the variety of opportunities offered for education. • Podcasts made available, most times virtual education is offered, would be nice to have versions to download for listening while traveling. continued on page 8…
• PVAD education. We seem to be updating that now that our CVAD policies mirror the Guidelines • PVAD handouts education • Quite happy. • Receiving info in French (more translation) • Recording of the webinar, conferences and a pdf file of the presentation, as we work
shifts at various time and we not have the time to access those resources. • Relevant topics, new IV meds being used for COVID, oncology, generally. More networking opportunities virtually • Satisfied so far • So far, I haven’t come across anything that I see that could improve.
Thank you to those who attended the Greater Hamilton CVAA Chapter’s first Thirsty Thursday! It was great to get a bunch of us together and discuss difficult questions and share solutions for patient challenges. Thank you for being both learners and teachers! We look forward to hosting another of these events in the new year and hopefully an in-person chapter event soon too! Stay tuned with the Greater Hamilton CVAA Chapter here.
Fall 2021 | Page 8
• To be quite honest, it’s my first year with CVAA and the various webinars are pretty good. I don’t have enough time to go over everything in detail • Update on blood culture infections in CVADs and what are the best practices, CVAD and IV drug use? What are the practices across the country • Various times for webinars
Did you miss the Skills Week? These hands-on small group sessions were a great success and we hope you enjoyed the small group and interactive format. Each session was limited to 20 participants. Before the week, each attendee received a package in the mail with hands-on materials to use in the session. • Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections: Reducing the Risk at All Access Points Fran Kleinsteuber, RN, BScN, NSWOC, Sponsored by 3M Canada • Bug OFF! Vascular Access Infection Prevention: The role of skin antisepsis and Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT®) Bonnie Onyschuk, RN, BScN, CVAA(c), Sponsored by BD
Fall 2021 | Page 9
Fight infection at every touchpoint. The global pandemic may have challenged you and your team to change your approach, but it didn’t change your commitment to stopping the spread of infection at your facility. With 3M as a trusted partner, you can take a holistic and science-based approach to reducing the risk of infection.* Together we can work to identify and help protect against the vulnerabilities in your patients, staff and clinical environment while also navigating evolving protocols and practices.
Learn more about our comprehensive approach at 3M.ca/InfectionPrevention. *3M solutions can play a role in supporting government and industry guidelines aimed at infection and transmission control. 3M does not make any claims that its products prevent or reduce the incidence of infection or the transmission of disease. For specific 3M products, please refer to the intended use. 3M and 3M Science. Applied to Life. are trademarks of 3M. Used under license in Canada. © 2021, 3M. All rights reserved. 2109-21858 E