Learning Center

Vascular access device (VAD) selection is a complex and evolving part of infusion therapy practice. The key foundational concept to VAD selection is vessel health and preservation, selecting the optimal VAD that will support administration of required infusion therapy while maintaining patient safety. It includes 4 basic segments: patient specific assessment and appropriate VAD selection, skilled clinician VAD insertion, VAD management to promote positive outcomes, and analyzing organizational data to identify areas for improvement. The choice of the correct VAD for placement is reliant on thorough understanding of VAD and infusate characteristics within the context of the individual patient’s condition and infusion therapy requirements. This session will review the risks and benefits of VAD options, the infusate components that increase injury risk, then apply those criteria to promote patient safety through to a case-based discussion from various clinical settings.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, learners will be able to:

•    Describe characteristics of peripheral and central vascular access devices through risk/analysis perspective

•    Identify infusate components that increase the risk of patient injury

•    Apply VAD and infusate characteristics in a case scenario format to optimize patient safety

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Barb Nickel, APRN-CNS, CCRN, CRNI®,

Intravascular catheters are among the most frequently used medical devices in healthcare. Their widespread use—across millions of insertions, access procedures, and maintenance events—significantly increases the risk of healthcare-associated infections.  

The purpose of this presentation is to provide a framework that vascular access team (VAT) members can use to reduce the risk of post-insertion infections associated with vascular access devices (VADs). Recent U.S. and international infection prevention (IP) research highlights a growing number of emerging issues and recommended interventions relevant to vascular access teams (VATs). These include hand hygiene adherence, proper use of personal protective equipment, and environmental exposure risks such as contaminated sinks.  

New federal legislation on hospital-onset bacteremia has expanded prevention efforts to all VADs, not just central lines. Additional focus areas include defining core components of infection risk mitigation, gaining leadership support, and optimizing catheter placement to reduce infection. Advances in antimicrobial dressings, blood culture contamination reduction, and updated IP strategies for peripheral IVs are also emphasized.  

Finally, monitoring post-insertion care with attention to bundle compliance remains a key priority. A review of emerging IP issues will inform necessary updates to VAD clinical practice protocols. These revisions aim to enhance patient safety by strengthening infection prevention across assessment, insertion, and maintenance practices. 

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

• Summarize the emerging IP issues that will influence VAD practice. 
• Summarize new peer-reviewed studies and expert guideline recommendations that impact VAD practice. 
• Reproduce a listing of emerging IP intervention considerations that reflect recent research findings. 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Robert Garcia, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC,

Catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) prevention has traditionally focused on 2 primary routes: skin flora migration along the catheter (extraluminal) and contamination introduced through the hub (intraluminal). Yet a third pathway—gross “outside-in” contamination from environmental or body fluids—remains underrecognized and largely absent from current infection-prevention (IP) bundles. The “What is Missing” concept addresses this overlooked pathway, taking a closer look at targeted interventions. This session examines the evidence for this neglected route, its clinical consequences, and the procedural vulnerabilities that permit it. This presentation highlights the urgent need to address this gap in protection and will review practical solutions for clinicians in all settings. Integrating these strategies into vascular access practices supports a systems-based approach to improve infection control to close the gap between ideal protocols and real-world practice. 

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, learners will be able to:  

• Identify the 3 primary routes of CABSI, including the underrecognized “outside-in” contamination pathway 
• Analyze real-world evidence and case data to determine the role of gross environmental contamination in the development of CABSI 
• Evaluate the limitations of current infection prevention practices and technologies in addressing visible contamination of vascular access components 
• Recommend practical, system-based interventions to reduce the risk of catheter-related infections in clinical practice 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Nancy Moureau, PhD, RN, CRNI®, CPUI™, VA-BC

More information coming soon...

Contact Hours: 1
CRNI® RUs: 2

Joan Harvey, DNP, RN-BC, CCRN

Susan H. Weaver, PhD, RN, CRNI®, NEA-BC, Nurse Scientist, Hackensack Meridian Health

Biological drug products—including monoclonal antibodies and protein-based therapeutics—must be administered parenterally and are highly sensitive to environmental stressors such as mechanical agitation, light exposure, and freezing. In addition to these external factors, the materials and devices used during preparation and infusion can also introduce degradation risks due to shear stress or incompatibility.  This session explores how formulation scientists anticipate and mitigate such risks during product development and manufacturing scale-up. Drawing from both research and industry experience, the presentation highlights strategies designed to ensure biologics remain stable and effective after leaving the manufacturing site. Insights from a recent nurse-focused survey on biologic handling will also be shared, along with discussion of their potential implications for future product design. The session concludes by identifying nurse-informed opportunities to make biologics more resilient and user-centric.  

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

• Discuss the sensitivity of biological drug products related to improper handling  and administration. 
• Recall the proper product handling required to reduce the risk of degradation. 
• Describe common nursing practices in the handling and administration of biologics. 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Ahmad Sediq

More information coming soon...

Contact Hours: 1
CRNI® RUs: 2

Claudia Orth

More information coming soon...

Contact Hours: 1
CRNI® RUs: 2

Jeannine Blake, PhD, RN,

Karen Meade,

More information coming soon...

Contact Hours: 1
CRNI® RUs: 2

Victor D. Rosenthal, MD, PhD,