Infection from an IV catheter…

can lead to a lawsuit!! Yes, according to a news article, a medical malpractice lawsuit filed late last month accuses nurses and health care providers of negligence by giving the patient “an IV tainted with streptococcus pyogenes” — bacteria commonly associated with strep throat. Click here for more info. The harm – following the removal of…

Cheaper at the Doctor’s Office

I came across this interesting article on a study that shows chemo costs less in doctor’s offices. Chemotherapy Treatment in Hospitals Costs 24% more than Treatment in Physician’s Offices The study found that care for patients treated in a physician’s office is less expensive regardless of the length of the chemotherapy duration. The average chemotherapy…

Wouldn’t it be nice….

..if we see veins like we had X-ray vision and insert IV catheters with one stick in patients with difficult to find veins?? Well, now there are several devices that can make the “venipuncture” experience much more tolerable, improves patient satisfaction and eliminates sticking patient’s veins blindly. They are called “vein-detecting” devices that use different types of technology and…

A second look at Midline catheters

Midline catheters have been around since the 1950’s and with the increasing popularity of other venous access like PICCs, many have forgotten about this viable option for venous access. So let’s take a second look… A midline catheter is approximately 3-8 inches long and is inserted in the antecubital area and advanced into the peripheral…

Today is….National Certified Nurses Day

March 19 every year is a day to recognize board certified nurses in many nursing specialties.  Certification is a profession’s official recognition of achievement, expertise, and clinical judgment. It is a mark of excellence that requires continued learning and skill development to maintain. In infusion nursing,  many are confused with the terms “certification”  and“certificate”.  These two…

In case you missed it…

Just a few interesting articles… 1.  “Poppy Pocket” – a safe and discreet way for patients to manage their infusion pumps. What a great idea! How many times have our patients complained of having to carry their pumps and nowhere to put it? This was designed by a daughter of a patient who battled cancer and…

I got a blood return…but

…it burns when you flush my port! In case you missed it… “The Case of the Painful Port”  a very interesting article published by ONS Connect and  shared by a twitter colleague @ONSmark.  Read article here… This case is a very good reminder for us nurses to stop and listen to what our patients are…

Celebrate I.V. Nurse Day…

In 1980, the professional practice of infusion nursing was formally recognized when the United States House of Representatives declared January 25 as IV Nurse Day. This recognition was the beginning of what the infusion specialty has become. Specialization marks the advancement of nursing practice. It signifies that nursing has moved from a global approach to…

FYI….Free!

Register to attend a FREE webinar on January 24, 2012 and receive 1.0 contact hours in nursing. Topic: Are you there yet? Integrating Infusion Nursing Standards into Your Practice The Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice are applicable to nurses providing infusion therapy across all healthcare settings. Whether you care for patients with vascular access requiring…

Welcome 2012…

2011 went by so fast and just like most of you, I can’t believe it’s already 2012. 2011 was a good year f0r me professionally and an equally good year for this blog as well. Through this blog, I have met so many wonderful individuals,  learned so much from them, and very grateful for their…