Study OverviewThis cross-sectional survey captured how vascular access care is organized across Australian and New Zealand hospitals, focusing on whether facilities have a vascular access specialist team (VAST), who selects devices, and which practices/policies are in place. Responses from 237 clinicians described settings, team composition, escalation pathways for difficult IV access (DIVA), and availability/uptake of device types and techniques (e.g., ultrasound-guided PIVCs, midlines).Key Fi...

Study Overview
A retrospective cohort study in a metropolitan Australian ED examined whether antecubital fossa (ACF) peripheral IV cannulas (PIVCs) are actually needed for contrast-enhanced CT. Among 447 eligible patients, researchers measured how often ACF PIVCs led to contrast use and which patient or clinical factors predicted contrast administration.Key FindingsBig mismatch: 80% of PIVCs were placed in the ACF, yet only 27% of patients received contrast CT—meaning ~73% of ACF insertion...

Study OverviewThis scoping review mapped how nurses are taught to administer intravenous systemic anticancer therapy (IV SACT) and where the evidence is strong or thin. From thousands of records screened, 20 studies (2010–2023) were included. Educational approaches ranged from classroom teaching and supervised clinical practice to simulation, virtual reality, and mobile apps. Four cross-cutting themes emerged: varied teaching methods, the benefit of interdisciplinary collaboration, uneven g...

We’re excited to share a valuable new podcast featuring Dr Grace (Hui) Xu on the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Infusion Room podcast.In Season 2, Episode 5, titled “The Hidden Risks of Routine IV Insertion in the Emergency Department,” Dr Grace Xu discusses the critical role of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) in emergency care, and why improving insertion practices, training, and patient involvement is so important for better outcomes. Dr Xu highlights the real-world chall...

Study Overview
This single-centre prospective cohort study examined how the catheter-to-vein ratio (CVR) relates to peripheral IV catheter (PIVC) failure. The authors highlight that a large share of PIVCs fail before treatment completion and that many failures stem from placing relatively large catheters into small-diameter peripheral veins—especially in the hand and wrist. Ultrasound assessment and careful vein/size matching were central themes in the study’s rationale.Key FindingsVein s...

Study Overview
This scoping review mapped the evidence on peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) use among hospitalised older adults (publications since 2000). Thirty sources from 12 countries were included across observational and experimental studies, education summaries, clinical guidelines, reviews, and other materials. The review highlights where evidence is strong, where it’s thin, and where future work should focus—especially on patient experience.Key FindingsEvidence skews observ...

Study OverviewFinal-year nursing students in Ireland described how they learn venepuncture and peripheral IV cannulation (PIVC) across simulation labs and real clinical placements. Three focus groups (8 students) were thematically analysed to surface what helps, what hinders, and what to fix next in curricula and ward practice.Key FindingsPractice builds confidence—both simulation and real-patient attempts matter; one simulated session isn’t enough.“Not how it’s done here”—student...

Study OverviewThis guideline-oriented scoping review mapped current evidence on peripheral IV catheter (PIVC) flushing—covering techniques, volumes, frequencies, speeds, syringe types, and outcomes across 39 studies. It highlights wide variability in practice and limited high-quality clinical trials to define an “optimal” approach.Key FindingsPractice is inconsistent: Studies reported mixed or missing details on technique, speed, volume, and frequency; approaches differ across settings ...

Study OverviewThis systematic review synthesised paediatric studies to quantify the financial burden of central venous access device (CVAD) complications and to examine how those costs are calculated. Infectious complications dominated both the literature and the spend, while reporting of costing methods was often incomplete—making cross-hospital comparisons difficult.Key FindingsInfectious complications are expensive: pooled mean ≈ USD $77,000 per event, with single-study estimates rangi...

Study OverviewThis meta-synthesis pooled infection outcomes from 18 prospective studies across seven Australian public hospitals, following 14,606 peripheral IV catheters (50,096 device-days) from insertion to removal. Researchers quantified local infection and bloodstream infection (BSI) using NHSN criteria and modelled day-by-day risk (hazard) over catheter dwell time.Key Findings- Very low but non-zero infection ratesLocal infection: 5/14,606 catheters (0.034%; 0.100 per 1,000 device-days)....