Vascular Access Team---best route?

[Nursling17]

Hi

I'm an excited nursing student!! I'll be graduating the summer of 2017

I've worked as a veterinary technician for the past 10 years and have decided to pursue nursing as my new profession.

I'm am interested in hearing how you became an Infusion Nurse or part of a vascular access team? Or simply any suggestions or tips you can offer. My dream is to eventually be proficient in vascular access/PICCS etc.

I believe that this area will fit me for many reasons:

1. I was (with animals) excellent at placing IV's and was sought out for "hard sticks" and I enjoyed the procedure

2. I was passionate about the simple fact that an easy IV placement can make such a difference to a frightened (animal in my case, but I can assume many humans as well) patient.

3. I enjoyed ultrasound

I still have MUCH to learn about nursing, and I may find another area that sparks my interest. However, as of now I am focused on how to achieve this after graduation

Thanks in advance for any advice or the story of how you fell into vascular access or infusion nursing.

[Asystole RN]

I started out as an IV nurse in LTC/Rehab and then went to work at an infusion center at the local hospital. The hospital taught me how to place PICCs because the infusion team was also a part of the vasculat access team.

Infusion therapy, oncology, ICU, and radiology are generally good specialty areas that can lead to vascular access. When you get your first job at a hospital look at their vascular access team and see what unit feeds into them. Usually the team will be tied to some larger unit.

Look at joining your local INS (Infusion Nurses Society) and AVA (Association for Vascular Access). You will rub shoulders with your future manager and coworkers at those two organizations. Important to do both!

[Nursling17]

Thank you Asystole RN