Videocasting

Well the time has finally arrived. I recently attended a videocast workshop delivered by Keith Radley at Sheffield Hallum University, UK. What a fantastic and useful day. I now understand the grammar of television. I can now recognise a wide shot (WS); medium close up (MCU); I am even partial to looking room left and looking room right. What does this mean for my role in IV therapy and for this blog? Well I will soon launch a series of IV videocasts 

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3M study day was a blast

I recently spoke at the 3M Advanced IV Study day at the National Space Centre on the 18th October 2007.The day was chaired with his usual professionalism by Martin Arrowsmith (Professional Service Manager, Skin Health, 3M Healthcare). First to present was Carmel Streater (Specialist Nurse Manager, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge). Carmel described her central venous access service with a dedicated purpose built vascular access unit.Following coffee, Ann Reed (Solicitor, Medeagle UK) kept the whole audience riveted with her knowledge and experience of assisting claimants with negligence claims against  Read more

Cannulation article

Ingram and Lavery (2007) recently published an article that may be useful for those writing a cannulation policy. The reference is Ingram P. & Lavery I. (2007) Peripheral intravenous cannulation: Safe insertion and removal technique. Nursing standard. 22(1), p.44-48.

Extravasation article

An article that examines a number of issues associated with extravasation. In particular the article describes strategies to prevent or minimise extravasation injuries. The reference is Sauerland C., Engelking C. and Wickham R. (2006) Vesicant extravasation, part 1: mechanisms, pathogenesis, and nursing care to reduce risk. Oncology Nursing Forum. 33(6), p.1134-41.

Vein assessment tool article

An interesting article that demonstrates how practitioners are beginning to look beyond cannulation as an isolated skill. We can finally begin to look at those care ellements that surround the actual insertion procedure e.g. assessment. The reference is Webster J., Morris H. & Robinson K. (2007) Development and validation of a vein assessment tool (VAT). Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing. 24(4), p5-7.

Patient information

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust developed a number of patient information leaflets. The leaflets include one for patients having a midline inserted and another for cannula care.

Did the IV training make a difference

Whenever we do IV training we try and make it interesting and fun!

We do not recommend that you do this with IV dressings. Only use IV dressings for the purpose they are intended!

Don’t worry no eyebrows were harmed during the taking of this picture

VIP score

Infusion phlebitis is an IV problem that continues to impact upon patient care. The RCN state that infusion phlebitis rates should not exceed 5%. The Visual

Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) score was developed to assist with the monitoring of cannula sites.

Check out the VIP score at the following link - VIP score

IV errors

I cannot over emphasise the importance of the BBC news health website. This resource allows us to access a wealth of information. In certain circumstances this information can be viewed as case studies. For example if you search for “nurse” “error” on the BBC news health website you can  Read more

Blood cultures

Recent advice from the DoH (Department of Health) has focussed upon standardising the approach taken when obtaining blood cultures. In particular the guidance looks at reducing the incidence false positives. Hopefully taking the incidence of false positives from approximately  Read more

PICC tip

Can you spot the PICC tip? Just for fun… no prizes

Dates for your diary

I am looking forward to these few dates:

• 18th October 2007 - speaking at an IV study day at the National Space Centre, UK sponsored by 3M healthcare.
• 30th October 2007 - vascular access team article due to be published in Nursing Times.
• 5th November 2007 - RCN IV conference at RCN HQ, London. Not speaking, but check out the conference details here.
• 26th November 2007 - speaking at a postgraduate course in respiratory medicine at the Institute for lung health, Leicester, UK.
• 11th December 2007 - speaking at a Healthcare Events IV Conference in Manchester, UK.

More dates for your diary to follow as my diary fills.

Welcome