Pharmacy admix training

Trinity Regional Health System are to offer training programs for pharmacy technicians, those who prepare medications and assist licensed pharmacists. Previously, pharmacy technicians have been required to have only a high school education and a clean criminal record. New state laws in both Iowa and Illinois will ensure they require certification.

“This program is all about medication and patient safety when they come into the hospital. More education for staff means increased leadership and quality of standards,” said Amy Descamps, Trinity’s lead pharmacy technician, who will also be the training program’s lead instructor.

A 2006 case involving Emily Jerry, a 2-year-old cancer patient in Ohio, seems to have triggered a nationwide change in laws regarding pharmacy technicians. The girl’s abdominal tumor, which was the size of a grapefruit, had responded to treatment and shrunk. During her last round of chemotherapy, though, a pharmacy technician formulated her medicine at 26 times the level it should have been. The error went unnoticed and the girl died three days later.

Click here for the full story.

Refeeding syndrome

This recently published article in the BMJ reminds us of the critical issues associated with refeeding syndrome.

Mehanna, H.M., Moledina, J. and Travis, J. (2008) Refeeding syndrome: what it is, and how to prevent and treat it. BMJ. 336, p.1495-1498.

Abstract:

“Refeeding syndrome is a well described but often forgotten condition. No randomised controlled trials of treatment have been published, although there are guidelines that use best available evidence for managing the condition. In 2006 a guideline was published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England and Wales. Yet because clinicians are often not aware of the problem, refeeding syndrome still occurs. This review aims to raise awareness of refeeding syndrome and discuss prevention and treatment. The available literature mostly comprises weaker (level 3 and 4) evidence, including cohort studies, case series, and consensus expert opinion. Our article also draws attention to the NICE guidelines on nutritional support in adults, with particular reference to the new recommendations for best practice in refeeding syndrome. These recommendations differ in parts from—and we believe improve on—previous guidelines, such as those of the Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group of the British Dietetic Association” (Mehanna et al 2008).

UK IVTEAM win award

A new IV team were the overall winners at the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust’s annual awards for staff innovation and excellence. Sian Bloomfield, Bev Waller and Bernie Coll are the “IV Team”.

This team tours Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and the Calderdale Royal Hospital, advising staff on the best ways of inserting tubes into patients as a way of reducing the risk of infection.

The Team won the £5,000 Gordon McLean Award, to be re-invested in the project.

Bev said: “We are shocked but very pleased; but this is not just our success.” Sian said: “This is the success of staff on the wards as they are the ones making the changes.”

The team has created new documentation, standardised equipment and set up a special IV trolley. It is so good the Government’s Health Department wants to widen its use among other hospital trusts.

I would also like to congratulate them… well done to you all… keep up the good work.

Click here for the full story.

Central venous access devices

Lynn Hadaway  has recently published an article that examines the essential care issues of central venous access devices.

Hadaway, L. (2008) Targeting therapy with Central Venous Access Devices. Nursing. 38(6), p.34-40.

Abstract: 

Zero in on your role in managing these common I.V. catheters so you can protect your patient from complications.

 

 

Topics in this article include:

• CVAD location
• Preventing infection
• CVAD management guidelines
• Stabilization advice
• Dressing changes
• Facts about flushing
• Flush solution
• Blood reflux after flushing
• Needlefree devices
• Removing the catheter

 

Environmental IV

I am very pleased to see that environmental questions are being asked of intravenous therapy.

Missoula’s two hospitals are moving toward sustainability and green practices as they examine the environmental health of the workplace.

Across the country, reducing waste, eliminating mercury and improving environmental stewardship is a trend evolving in the health care industry.

St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center was one of 141 hospitals, health systems and health care organizations recently awarded for its efforts by the nonprofit Practice Greenhealth.

Across town, Community Medical Center’s environmental awareness work group will hold its first meeting Friday to pursue green practices.

The hospital is also working to eliminate mercury in lab reagents and PVC plastics in intravenous tubing.

Click here for the full story.

 

Patient experience video

AstraZeneca have launched a website that allows anyone to upload a video of their experience with needles. It only contains a few videos at the moment. But over time I can see how health professions may benefit from patient experience posted on the Internet.

Thank you to Jon Moss for highlighting this site - you can check out his review of the ihateneedles site here or you can go straight to the videos at the ihateneedles site by clicking here.

Wireless may disrupt IV devices

It have recently been reported that Wireless systems used by many hospitals to keep track of medical equipment can cause potentially deadly breakdowns in lifesaving devices such as electronic infusion devices.

Some of the microchip-based “smart” systems are touted as improving patient safety, but a Dutch study of equipment — without the patients — suggests the systems could actually cause harm.

The wireless systems send out radio waves that can interfere with equipment such as respirators, external pacemakers and kidney dialysis machines, according to the study.

Researchers discovered the problem in 123 tests they performed in an intensive-care unit at an Amsterdam hospital. Patients were not using the equipment at the time. Nearly 20 percent of the cases involved hazardous malfunctions that would probably harm patients. These included breathing machines that switched off; mechanical syringe pumps that stopped delivering medication; and external pacemakers, which regulate the heart, that malfunctioned.

Click here to read the full story.

Click here for the story again - different report.

UPDATE - Another news item - Wireless Hospital Tracking System Study Needlessly Alarms Public.

Barcode patient

The nurse scans the wristband barcode to make sure it matched information on his medication and on her computer screen.

Wayne Memorial’s new Bedside Medication Verification (BMV) program officially launched this month. BMV supports the “Five Rights” of Medication Management: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dosage, Right Route, and Right Time. Caregivers scan the patient’s wristband barcode and then scan the code on the medication to be administered to correctly identify that the right medication at the right dose is being given to the right patient at the right time and by the right route (intravenous, oral, etc). 

 “This is a real milestone for Wayne Memorial,” said David Hoff, Chief Executive Officer. “BMV is one of the most important steps we’ve ever taken for patient safety.”    

Click here for more on this story

 

Jugular v Femoral catheterization

Parienti et al (2008) compare the risk of nosocomial complications associated with jugular and femoral central catheterization.

Parienti J.J., Thirion M., Megarbane B., Souweine B., Ouchikhe A., Polito A., Forel J.M., Marque S., Misset B., Airapetian N., Daurel C., Mira J.P., Ramakers M., du Cheyron D., Le Coutour X., Daubin C., Charbonneau P. and Members of the Cathedia Study Group (2008) Femoral vs jugular venous catheterization and risk of nosocomial events in adults requiring acute renal replacement therapy: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 299(20), p.1538-3598.

Abstract:

“Based on concerns about the risk of infection, the jugular site is often preferred over the femoral site for short-term dialysis vascular access. To determine whether jugular catheterization decreases the risk of nosocomial complications compared with femoral catheterization. A concealed, randomized, multicenter, evaluator-blinded, parallel-group trial (the Cathedia Study) of 750 patients from a network of 9 tertiary care university medical centers and 3 general hospitals in France conducted between May 2004 and May 2007. The severely ill, bed-bound adults had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 45 and required a first catheter insertion for renal replacement therapy. Patients were randomized to receive jugular or femoral vein catheterization by operators experienced in placement at both sites. Rates of infectious complications, defined as catheter colonization on removal (primary end point), and catheter-related bloodstream infection. Patient and catheter characteristics, including duration of catheterization, were similar in both groups. More hematomas occurred in the jugular group than in the femoral group (13/366 patients [3.6%] vs 4/370 patients [1.1%], respectively; P = .03). The risk of catheter colonization at removal did not differ significantly between the femoral and jugular groups (incidence of 40.8 vs 35.7 per 1000 catheter-days; hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-1.16; P = .31). A prespecified subgroup analysis demonstrated significant qualitative heterogeneity by BMI (P for the interaction term 28.4). The rate of catheter-related bloodstream infection was similar in both groups (2.3 vs 1.5 per 1000 catheter-days, respectively; P = .42). Jugular venous catheterization access does not appear to reduce the risk of infection compared with femoral access, except among adults with a high BMI, and may have a higher risk of hematoma” (Parienti et al 2008).

Community IV care

Linda Kelly has recently published an article that examines the care of vascular access devices in community care.

Kelly, L. (2008) The care of vascular access devices in community care. British Journal of Community Nursing. 13(5), p.1462-4753.

“Infusion therapy is now an integral part of the majority of nurses’ professional practice (RCN, 2006). Infusion therapy is no longer confined to secondary care, and home intravenous therapy is becoming more commonplace (Keyley, 2002). As nurses, we are responsible for maintaining our skills and knowledge in relation to all aspects of patient care (RCN, 2006). This article provides an overview of the types of vascular access devices used in primary care, and provides guidance and recommendations to ensure best practice. Although there are many complications associated with vascular access devices (Docherty, 2006) this article will focus on the prevention of infection and maintainace of catheter patency in vascular access devices. Infection is one of the most serious complications that can result from the presence and use of a central venous catheter (Humar et al. 2000), however careful management of these devices can minimize the complications associated with infusion therapy” (Kelly 2008). 

 

ASHP House of Delegates

The House of Delegates of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) considered a number of professional issues during its 60th annual session in Seattle. One such issue was…

“Standardization of Intravenous Drug Concentrations: To develop nationally standardized drug concentrations and dosing units for commonly used high-risk drugs that are given as continuous infusions; further, to encourage all hospitals and health systems to use infusion devices that interface with their information systems and include standardized drug libraries with dosing limits, clinical advisories, and other patient-safety-enhancing capabilities”.

Click here for more on this story.

 

Nursery ICU CRBSI free

UCSF’s William H. Tooley Intensive Care Nursery has gone 135 days without a single central line-associated bloodstream infection.

“The reduction in infection is really due to a change in culture at UCSF,” says Michelle Cathcart, RN. “Dr. Yao Sun has been instrumental in creating the cultural shift which supports nurses in their role as gatekeepers.”

In addition to hand hygiene, nurses at UCSF also enforce no wearing of jewelry or long-sleeve shirts in the NICU. These rules apply to anyone touching a baby, including nurses, physicians and family members. UCSF best practices also include the use of chlorhexidine, an antimicrobial agent for cleaning skin, and training a core group of nurses to do dressing changes for central lines.

Click here for the full story.
 

Preparing IV’s

Bruce Flickinger writes about the legislation associated with compounding sterile preparation.

“Things have changed in the past 20 years. Although avoiding contamination may be possible in such uncontrolled conditions, nobody now would admit to mixing intravenous and other sterile preparations on an open countertop. Doing so could cost a pharmacist his license and his livelihood, not to mention potentially compromise the safety of his patients and employees”.

Bruce further writes… “Standards for sterility and safety now have been codified in USP Chapter <797>, a federally enforceable standard introduced in 2004 and published in revised and updated form just this month”.

Click here for the full online article.

 

VuStik Inc.

VuStik Inc. has developed a machine that helps nurses decide where to stick a needle for intravenous access

Read more

Clinical skills network

The Clinical Skills Network - Yorkshire and Humberside have recently launched a new website. The network recognises that…

“Many challenges are faced when setting up clinical skills centres often requiring creative and innovative solutions with requests for information, support and guidance at a pragmatic level been continually sought from more established institutions. It has become clear that a support network is needed where individuals can come together to discuss issues of concern; share good practice and reduce the potential for re-invention of the wheel”.

Click here to visit the Clinical Skills Network.

IV history

Neil MacGillivray writes in the Herald about Dr Thomas Latta who was one of the forefathers of infusion therapy. Asking “if it is time for Edinburgh to honour the memory of a remarkable pioneer whose work has been largely forgotten”. 

“Dr Thomas Latta of Leith, who, during a cholera epidemic in 1832, treated cholera for the first time by the intravenous injection of saline, reporting his findings in a letter to the Lancet in May 1832, has been forgotten. His use of intravenous saline was for the time a remarkable attempt to correct the catastrophic loss of body fluids which is the main cause of death in cholera. Many decades were to pass before fluid replacement became recognised as the standard treatment that is in use today ” (MacGillivray 2008).

MacGillivray continues “A colleague of Latta’s in the Edinburgh Cholera Hospital in Drummond Street, Dr John Mackintosh, wrote after Latta’s death in 1833″: “Although Dr Latta’s exertions and fate must have been known to a number of influential men, his grave does not exhibit any monument of public gratitude.”

If you want to read more about Thamas Latta you will find an excellent article by Neil MacGillivray here.

 

Vascular Access Team

Specialist nurses are working across the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust to develop and improve Intravenous Access – one of many initiatives expected to collectively contribute to a reduction in healthcare associated infections.

Over the next year the Vascular Access Team will be assessing current IV access practice at the RD&E hospital, developing practice to ensure patients are assessed and given the appropriate IV device for their healthcare needs; carrying out audit work to ensure lines are appropriately managed and the risk of infection reduced; and taking an active role in educating medical and nursing staff about the insertion, care and removal of IV devices.

Pictured from right to left: Senior Vascular Access Nurse Specialist Vicki Shawyer with Vascular Nurse Specialists Helen Williamson and Barbara Hector.

MADRI conference on CRBSI

The Multidisciplinary Alliance Against Device-Related Infections (MADRI) hosted its eighth annual conference June 6-8, 2008 in Lansdowne, VA where leading infection specialists presented on a variety of topics, including research goals in epidemiology and infection control, legal perspectives on MRSA and catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSIs).

“Driven by discussions around improving patient care and the prevention of device-related infections, the eighth annual MADRI conference was a huge success,” said Rabih Darouiche, M.D., VA distinguished service professor, Departments of Medicine (Infectious Disease Section) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and director of Center for Prostheses Infection and MADRI founder. “In an open and educational atmosphere, experts across disciplines were able to discuss challenges associated with device-related infections and exchange ideas about prevention and improvement of patient care.”

One of the main themes of the conference was CRBSIs, a common nosocomial infection that develops when bacteria enter the blood stream through a central venous catheter (CVC).

Click here for the full story.

 

Blood transfusion opposition

A judge has ruled that the rights of the Jehovah’s Witness parents of sextuplets born in Vancouver were not violated when doctors administered blood transfusions to the premature babies.

During the treatment of four premature babies transfusions were given against the wishes of the parents, who are members of a religion that opposes such medical procedures. After the transfusions, the babies were returned to their parents and since then their development has progressed well without any significant health problems.

In making his ruling, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Brenner noted that the babies were born Jan. 7, 2007 at the B.C. Women’s and Children’s Hospital at 25 weeks and had extremely low birth weights, requiring resuscitation. They were admitted to an intensive care unit where they received life support including ventilation, oxygen, intravenous nutrition, the drug erythropoietin and other medications. Two babies died due to complications. During the treatment of the other four, physicians deemed that blood transfusions were a medical necessity.

Click here to read the full story.

Cardinal Health profits

The chief financial officer of Cardinal Heath Inc. Jeff Henderson, says the health care products and services company expects revenue to grow “at about market” as the company works to improve its drug distribution and clinical and medical products units.

Over time, Henderson said the company plans to have as much as 40 percent of its profits come from its other division, clinical and medical products. He said there is room to improve overseas sales for the Alaris business, which distributes intravenous drug delivery systems and monitoring products.

Henderson said the clinical and medical products business is focused on improving health care safety. He pointed to growing concerns about hospital-borne infections, which have received increased media attention because of outbreaks of drug-resistant staph infections.

Click here for the full story.

 

Medical litter

In this fascinating article JoNel Aleccia reports on the phenomena of medical litter; fragments of medical devices that are left inside patients.

Since 2003, reports of 72 deaths and 4,675 injuries associated with “unretrieved device fragments,” or UDFs, have been logged in the FDA database that tracks adverse events.

The most common problem occurs when wire guides for catheters used in heart operations break or fracture, leaving the device or fragments behind.

Click here to review the full story.

 

Medicine administration errors

This excellent recently published article brings together both history and recent guidance associated with drug errors. It is particularly relevant due to the recent NPSA interest in heparin errors.

Click here for the article on redorbit.com

Venkatraman R. and Durai R. (2008) Errors in medicine administration: how can they be minimised? Journal of perioperative practice. 18(6), p.249-253.

Abstract:

“Errors in medicine administration often go unnoticed and unreported. This article describes three medicine-related errors and provides recommendations to reduce risk. All medicinerelated errors should be reported locally and to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) so that they can be collated and trends identified. Electronic prescribing and patient/medicine identification by bar codes, double checking and using colour coded syringes for intravenous and enteral administration, employing more clinical pharmacists and regular education may reduce medicine-related errors” (Venkatraman and Durai 2008).

Virtual reality IV insertion

UK Haptics have recently announced that the NHS National Technology Adoption Hub will use the Virtual Reality Clinical Skills Training Systems as one of four new Technology Implementation Projects.

The Virtual Reality Clinical Skills Training System delivers virtual reality, combined with the latest haptics technologies that introduce a sense of touch to human and computer interaction and realistic 3D graphics.

The NHS National Technology Adoption Hub aims to help technology companies overcome the barriers to the NHS adopting innovative new technology products. Their primary aims are to:

• Increase the uptake of new technology in all areas of the NHS.
• Work with partners to identify excellent technologies which will improve healthcare in the NHS.
• Promote greater cooperation between all organisations involved in the development and use of healthcare technologies in the NHS.

Click here for further information from UK Haptics

Click here for further information from the NHS National Technology Adaption Hub

 

Infusion Nurses Society webinar

INS to Present 3rd Module in Webinar Series on Catheter Patency.

The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) will be presenting the final catheter patency weninar module entitled Alternatives to Heparin in Locking and Maintaining Central Vascular Access Devices. This module will take place on June 24, 2008 at 1:00 PM EDT. The program is free to all INS members ($35 for nonmembers).

The entire series was developed through a nursing education grant from B. Braun Medical Inc.

If you have previously registered for this program, there is no need to do so again. If you did not, please don’t delay. Registration for this very important and informative program will be limited.

Register now http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/ins/

 

Intravenous drip patient dies

A clinic where patients died or fell ill after receiving intravenous drips had sloppy hygiene control, such as sharing the same hand towels among nurses, it has emerged.

Tanimoto Orthopedic Clinic in Iga, Mie Prefecture, is accused of keeping mixed intravenous drip solutions for a period of time before administering them to patients.

One of the patients, a 73-year-old woman, died after receiving an intravenous drip at the clinic, while several other patients fell ill.

“We used to keep mixed intravenous drip solutions for a while,” said Hiromichi Tanimoto, head of the hospital, as he met reporters in front of the clinic on Thursday.

Click here to read the full story.

Vancomycin administration

In this collaborative work between Brazil and the UK the authors describe mistakes made by staff during the administration of intravenous Vancomycin.

Hoefel H., Schmitt C., Soares T. and Jordan S. (2008) Vancomycin administration: mistakes made by nursing staff. Nursing Standard. 22(39), p. 35-42.

Abstract:

“Aim: To identify the number and types of errors made by assistant and technical nurses when administering intravenous (IV) vancomycin.

Method: Preparation and IV administration of 143 doses of vancomycin by 55 assistant and technical nurses were observed in four acute wards (three adult and one paediatric) in a public university hospital in Brazil. Non-participant observers completed a structured checklist for each dose.

Results: A total of 27 (19%) doses were administered correctly and 116 (81%) incorrectly. There were 268 errors of four types: (i) incorrect dose; (ii) improper preparation of a dose; (iii) inadequate administration technique; and (iv) infusion at an incorrect rate. For 13 of 143 (9%) doses, errors occurred in all four aspects of administration. Errors were observed on all four wards.

Conclusion: The high incidence of suboptimal administration of vancomycin observed is a cause for concern. Focused education and safety measures have been introduced and their impact is being evaluated” (Hoefel et al 2008).

 

Central venous catheter tip sampling

In a recent edition of the Nursing Times, John Guest has written a brief procedural type overview of central venous catheter tip collection.

Guest J. (2008) Specimen collection: Central venous catheter tip collection. Nursing Times. 104(22), p.20-21.

Abstract:

“The removal of CVC’s should be carried out by those familiar with the procedure and those who are aware of the potential risks” (Guest 2008).

European PICC conference

GAVeCeLT announce the 2nd PICC International Meeting on PICCs and midline catheters.

The conference will take place on December 3rd, 2008 in the Congress Centre ‘Europa’ – Catholic University, Rome. This day is then followed by the 6th GAVeCeLT congress international meeting on long term vascular access devices.

Click here for further information.

Needlefree lidocaine study

This study by Zempsky et al (2008) compares needle-free powder lidocaine with a placebo. Readers may also be interested in reading about Zingo in our product section.

Zempsky W.T., Bean-Lijewski J., Kauffman R.E., Koh J.L., Malviya S.V., Rose J.B., Richards P.T. and Gennevois D.J. (2008) Needle-free powder lidocaine delivery system provides rapid effective analgesia for venipuncture or cannulation pain in children: randomized, double-blind comparison of venipuncture and venous cannulation pain after fast-onset needle-free powder lidocaine or placebo treatment trial. Pediatrics. 121(5), p.979-987.

Abstract:

“The Comparison of Venipuncture and Venous Cannulation Pain After Fast-Onset Needle-Free Powder Lidocaine or Placebo Treatment trial was a randomized, single-dose, double-blind, phase 3 study investigating whether a needle-free powder lidocaine delivery system (a sterile, prefilled, disposable system that delivers lidocaine powder into the epidermis) produces effective local analgesia within 1 to 3 minutes of venipuncture and peripheral venous cannulation procedures in children. Pediatric patients (3-18 years of age) were randomly assigned to treatment with the needle-free powder lidocaine delivery system (0.5 mg of lidocaine and 21 +/- 1 bar of pressure; n = 292) or a sham placebo system (n = 287) at the antecubital fossa or the back of the hand 1 to 3 minutes before venipuncture or cannulation. All patients rated the administration comfort of the needle-free systems and the pain of the subsequent venous access procedures with the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (from 0 to 5). Patients 8 to 18 years of age also provided self-reports with a visual analog scale, and parents provided observational visual analog scale scores for their child’s venous access pain. Safety also was assessed. Immediately after administration, mean Wong-Baker Faces scale scores were 0.54 and 0.24 in the active system and sham placebo system groups, respectively. After venipuncture or cannulation, mean Wong-Baker Faces scale scores were 1.77 +/- 0.09 and 2.10 +/- 0.09 and mean visual analog scale scores were 22.62 +/- 1.80 mm and 31.97 +/- 1.82 mm in the active system and sham placebo system groups, respectively. Parents’ assessments of their child’s procedural pain were also lower in the active system group (21.35 +/- 1.43 vs 28.67 +/- 1.66). Treatment-related adverse events were generally mild and resolved without sequelae. Erythema and petechiae were more frequent in the active system group. The needle-free powder lidocaine delivery system was well tolerated and produced significant analgesia within 1 to 3 minutes” (Zempsky et al 2008).

Zingo™

In August 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zingo™ (lidocaine hydrochloride monohydrate) powder intradermal injection system to provide local analgesia prior to venipuncture or peripheral IV starts in children three to 18 years of age.

Anesiva the company behind Zingo™ have informed IVTEAM that this new product will be available from June 27th 2008.

Zingo™ delivers a powder form of lidocaine. Instead of using a needle to deliver the analgesic, Zingo™ uses compressed gas to accelerate the lidocaine particles into the skin. This provides analgesia in one to three minutes.

The Zingo™ website can be seen here and the Zingo™ package insert/instructions for use can be seen here.

For more information on Zingo™ send an e-mail to medinfo@anesiva.com

Readers may also benefit from reading about a study into needlefree lidocaine administration on our literature pages.

UPDATE - GE Capital extends loan deal with Anesiva, waives default.

Recent EPIC2 conferences

London, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester hosted what has turned out to be a remarkable set of free study days that examined the practical aspects of implementing EPIC2, Saving Lives and ANTT.

This national program was developed jointly by the Infection Prevention Society and Thames Valley University. On behalf of all the speakers, sponsors and conference organizers I would like to thank the audience at each venue. Your involvement, interest and interaction made a world of difference… thank you.

I would also personally like to take this opportunity to thank the conference organizers ‘Fitwise‘ for managing a roadshow of logistical mammoth proportions with apparent ease and professionalism throughout. Also, I must thank the sponsors, without whom this event would not have taken place. The sponsors include Enturia, BBraun, 3M, Daniels Healthcare, Ecolab, Fannin Healthcare, G+N Medical, Tealwash, Vernacare and Royal Navy.

Finally, I am pleased to offer a link to the Harage (2007) Zero CRBSI article discussed at the study days and the link to the Association of Vascular Access ‘SAVE that line’ train the trainer online program.

 

Intravenous connection error

A settlement has been reached between an Idaho Falls hospital and the family of a 73-year-old woman who had sued the hospital over her death on May 21, 2003.

She was taken to the hospital May 12 after collapsing at her home. Doctors at the hospital determined a brain hemorrhage. The patient had a catheter placed in her head to drain excess fluid from her brain.

On May 14, a nurse found that the patient had decreased consciousness and discovered that medications that should have been injected through an intravenous line were instead connected to the tube that drained fluid from her brain. Her health then declined to where she had to be connected to a ventilator. She died a week later.

Click here to read the full story.

ANTT conference

Stephen Rowley has announced the date for a national Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT) conference in London, UK.

The date to reserve in your diary is 29th September 2008.

Details will be posted on the ANTT website shortly.

Intravenous Nurse vacancy

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and highly enthusiastic individual to become part of the dynamic and innovative IV Team.

The post will be based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and will involve working at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath for 2 days per week. The IV Therapy Nurse will work alongside the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Practice Development Nurse to ensure continued development of the Intravenous therapy service across the Trust. The post holder will provide training and support to all staff within the Trust. They will be a vital part of the Midline and PICC insertion service.

The ideal candidate will have experience of working within an acute setting, for example ITU or Recovery and possess IV therapy skills including venepuncture and cannulation. Experience of PICC placement would be an advantage, although full training can be given.

Click here for further information.