We're thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Hideto Yasuda, a distinguished physician hailing all the way from Japan. Dr. Yasuda has embarked on an incredible journey to the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) in Brisbane, Australia.  Dr. Yasuda brings a wealth of experience as an emergency physician and intensivist, caring for patients facing severe sepsis, acute respiratory failure, and multiple trauma. With a strong passion for improving the prevention and man...

When it comes to vascular access, a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the veins in the chest and neck is vital. These veins serve as crucial pathways for the insertion of various catheters, such as acute central venous catheters (CVCs), totally implanted central catheters (TIVADs), and tunnelled central venous catheters (TCVCs). In this comprehensive guide, Dr Linda Kelly explores the intricacies of chest and neck veins and delves into important considerations ...

The 2023 ACIPC International Conference is just around the corner, and the Board of Directors is thrilled to invite you to be a part of this exciting event. Set to take place from November 12th to 15th, this year's conference will be held in a hybrid format, combining in-person sessions at the Adelaide Convention Centre in South Australia with online participation. Under the captivating theme "Driving Forward: Embracing Fundamentals and Charting a Path for the Future," the conf...

We are pleased to share the April edition of AVATAR's newsletter, which highlights some of our recent events and achievements. One of the highlights was the 50th Anniversary Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Annual Meeting, where several members of AVATAR had the opportunity to showcase their excellent work, including Professors Nicole Marsh, Amanda Ullman, and Andrew Bulmer, among others. The event was a great success and marked a significant milestone for the INS. We're also excited t...

We are often asked if it's okay to take blood samples from a peripheral intravenous catheter (aka PIVC, cannula). In Australia, each state has a different policy, however, most allow blood draws on insertion of the cannula. The Infusion Nurses Society Standards of Practice 8th edition (2021, page S129) has the following recommendations, based on evidence: "Risks associated with sampling from a PIVC include hemolysis of the sample, contamination of the sample from infusing...

In my 19 years as a Safe Medication Practice Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC), I have seen many examples of avoidable medication harm to patients. Despite education and procedures to support best practice, staff compliance and organizational culture issues continue to perpetuate the cycle of unintended patient harm due to medication errors. The Medication Administration Evaluation and Feedback Tool (MAEFT) is a validated 22 criteria best practice checklist. Nurses use the MAEFT to self-asses...

ESPEN, the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, has released new guidelines for Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN). The guidelines are freely available by following the link below. Summary This guideline will inform physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, caregivers and other home parenteral nutrition (HPN) providers, as well as healthcare administrators and policy makers, about appropriate and safe HPN provision. This guideline will also inform patients requiring HPN....

The AVAS mission is to: “Promote and improve patient safety and clinical outcomes; develop a standard of excellence in the field of vascular access; promote the development in national standards of practice; provide professional development and quality education; develop and share best practices; and promote ongoing vascular access research."  We invite clinicians, vascular access specialists, educators, researchers, and industry partners to join today.     &n...