Learning Center

For most patients, attention to pain management is a critically important intervention. However, the need to address pain concerns often remains under-appreciated by clinicians. Current evidence provides interventions that include local anesthesia and non-pharmacologic strategies.

Use, care, and management questions regarding implanted vascular access ports abound. In this session, we will discuss changes to the Standards that address vascular access pain management and implanted vascular access ports.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Discuss the importance of addressing pain management for patients who require vascular access procedures.
2. Differentiate between INS Practice Recommendations for pain management strategies.
3. Examine INS Practice Recommendations related to the care and management of implanted vascular access ports.

Lisa Gorski, MS, RN, HHCNS-BC, CRNI®, FAAN,

Barb Nickel, APRN-CNS, CCRN, CRNI®,

Frequently, the Standards of Practice document is used to answer direct questions about specific clinical questions related to infusion therapies or vascular access device insertion or management. The first two sections may easily be overlooked because they appear to have less significance. These sections require equal attention, however, as they contain important components of practice regarding patient and clinician safety, legal and regulatory issues, competency, quality improvement, and many others. This presentation will focus on the new aspects of these sections and how they impact daily clinical practice.

Learning Objectives: 

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Define scope of practice and the process for making practice decisions for licensed and unlicensed personnel.
2. Describe the organization of infusion and vascular access services that promote improved outcomes.
3. Identify the processes for competency assessment with the psychomotor skills of infusion therapy and vascular access insertion and management.
4. Explain the integration of quality improvement processes to improve patient outcomes, organizational outcomes, and ongoing competency assessment.

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI®,

During this lunchtime event, attendees will have the opportunity to ask the panel questions about how to implement the revised 2021 Standards of Practice changes into their practice.