In this time of COVID-19, many nurses are upskilling to take care of critically ill patients. AVATAR recently collaborated with Continulus to create the following lecture ; In this session, Dr Gillian Ray-Barruel covers the following objectives: 1. Review possible complications during and following CVC insertion 2. Discuss principles of nursing management post-insertion: Flushing Safe blood sampling Medication and fluid administration Dressing changes 3. Describe t...

Now more than ever, many of us are caring for sick patients requiring source isolation for infectious (e.g. SARS-CoV2 [COVID-19]) or multi-resistant organisms (MRSA, VRE, etc). The last thing any patient needs is a bloodstream infection. For patients with an existing infection, a bloodstream infection can be particularly deadly. So, how do you make sure your vascular access devices (VAD) are functioning properly when you can't be in the patient's room at all times? Here are a fe...

We are seeking input and feedback from consumers with experience of a vascular access device to participate in a short survey about what vascular access information is important to them. This involves completing a short, online survey about vascular access variables proposed by our research team (e.g., "pain rating", "difficult venous access") and rating their importance according to the individual's own experience. https://prodsurvey.rcs.griffith.edu.au/prodls200/in...

Vessel Health and Preservation: The Right Approach for Vascular Access, edited by Dr Nancy Moureau, has just been released. This open-access book has been possible thanks to the generous contributions of 3M, Teleflex and Nancy Trick. The free access provision would not have happened without the support and generous offerings of these three and the assistance of the Association for Vascular Access Foundation. Many thanks to the donors and supporting associations of the Association ...

The Pint of Science Australia runs events to bring researchers across all fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine to share their recent discoveries with the local community. At the sold-out, Tuesday night event, Associate Professor Amanda Ullman presented her team's NHMRC-funded project on peripherally inserted central catheter innovation to reduce infection and clots (PICNIC trial).  Read more about it here. ...

PhD candidate, Amanda Corley, is investigating the concept of an evidence-based securement bundle as a means of addressing the current unacceptably high failure rate in peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs). PIVCs are a mainstay of modern healthcare with over 2 billion used globally each year, however around 40% of them fail before medical treatment is completed. Read more about it here. ...

Congratulations to the Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre Vascular Access (NMVA) Research Team for their recent Health Service and Implementation Research Award at the 2019 Metro North Research Excellence Awards. This team is comprised of Nicole Marsh, Professor Joan Webster, Professor Claire Rickard, Emily Larsen, Deanne August, Julie Flynn and Amanda Corley. These researchers all hold appointments with Queensland Health Metro North Hospital and Health Services, as well as staff or...