Best evidence-based practices

[AWellborn]

I have been an interventional radiology nurse for years and have assisted with many difficult PICCs that were referred to us to be done by radiologists under flouroscopy. Recently, I was given the opportunity to join the PICC team and practice independently. Unfortunately, my Bard educator's first words were "nurses over 50 just aren't successful at placing PICCS". Guess where I am in life!

I've been fairly successful and my hospital preceptor has signed me off to work independently (I have only had to be bailed out 3 times out of my first 50). However, her words have stuck with me and I am still feeling insecure. Our hospital's policies & procedures for PICCs are not current or very complete. In addition, none of the members of the PICC line team have outside experience or certification.

My questions are:

What is the best organization to join-AVA or INS?

Who certifies PICC nurses and what is the best way to study to be certified?

Are there sources (EBP) that will help me develop my practice and get over my insecurity?

Thanks for any help!!!

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

Who in the heck does this "bard educator' think they are? I would put NO credence in their opinion. This statement is nonsensical and should be stricken from your memory banks.

Personally, I would opt for my CRNI, but AVA is a good organization too.

[Asystole RN]

First of all I would like to apologize for that educator's behavior, that person is a poor representative of the vascular access community and the medical industry at large. Some of the best vascular access nurses I knew were over 50, hell one the very best I know is over 70.

The Association of Vascular Access (AVA) is a newer non-nursing specific professional organization with very little in the way of resources or standards other than their journal. It is a great organization to get involved with to network with fellow vascular access specialists however.

The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) is the gold standard, a nursing orientated professional organization that literally has the textbook of infusion nursing/vascular access. INS sets the standard of practice internationally; if you look at the CDC, SHEA Compendium, or any other organization that sets guidelines for care they base their rationales off of what INS states the standard should be.

Having both the CRNI and VA-BC I can tell you that there is a world of difference between them. The CRNI test is not easy, with a more general focus on infusion therapy and vascular access. I had to seriously study for it simply because it touched on so many topics like oncology, hematology, nutrition, etc. On the other hand I could take my VA-BC text without ever opening a textbook while half-asleep after a shift at work and ace the test it is so easy. They had to build it so that nurses, rad techs, respiratory therapists, etc could take and pass the test.

The CRNI is much, MUCH more prestigious than the VA-BC. It denotes that not only do you have a grasp on the technical side of vascular access but you also have a firm grasp of the fundamentals of why you are even placing that vascular access device, it shows that you have the knowledge to build a full vascular access assessment.

Start Welcome to INS1 - Infusion Nurses Society and take a look at some of their publications and books.