Learning Center

More information coming soon...

Contact Hours: 1
CRNI® RUs: 2

Baudolino Mussa

Peripheral intravenous infiltrations and extravasations (PIVIEs) remain a significant source of preventable harm, patient distress, and healthcare cost, especially in pediatric settings, where families often cite intravenous (IV) starts and failures as the most stressful part of a hospitalization. With over 80% of hospitalized patients requiring a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC), proactive prevention strategies are essential. This session introduces and discusses the P.O.K.E. initiative (Previous PIVIE, Oral transition, Keep it, Educate PIV plan to family and team), a structured communication tool designed to reduce PIVIE rates through interdisciplinary collaboration and family engagement.  

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

• Understand the complications associated with PIVIE and their impact on the child, the family, and the health care system 
• Identify evidence-based tools for the prevention of PIVIE 
• Evaluate current PIVIE prevention strategies implemented to determine alignment with evidence-based best practices and identify opportunities for improvement 
• Recognize key risk factors that contribute to its occurrence in pediatric patients 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Julie Marshall

Jessica Perdue

Large-volume intravenous smart pumps (IVSPs) are essential for patient care but present significant usability challenges, including alarm fatigue, complex programming, and non-intuitive interfaces, leading to workarounds and medication errors. This session advocates for a systems-based approach to mitigate these persistent safety risks. It will review the current state of IVSP technology and its impact on nursing workflow, presenting key findings from the presenter's research, including results from a four-device usability comparison involving critical care nurses. Using real-world case studies, the session will illustrate use-related risks and equip nurses—the primary end-users—with a better understanding of available technology and strategies to identify and mitigate patient safety events, reinforcing that safer IVSP use is a critical patient safety mandate. 

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to: 

• Analyze the scope and history of intravenous smart pump (IVSP) use in United States health care, including current IV medication error rates and the range of available technologies
• Evaluate the critical usability challenges—such as alarm fatigue and complex programming—that contribute to medication administration errors, leveraging data from a national usability comparison study
• Explain the concepts of flow-rate accuracy, including the influence of both intake and outlet pressure, and critique the limitations of manufacturer testing in guiding real-world clinical practice
• Apply evidence-based strategies to mitigate infusion-related risks for patients receiving critical continuous, titratable, and secondary medications, utilizing case study examples
• Develop an advocacy position on what nurses should expect from IVSP vendors and articulate the necessary role of the nurse in driving future technology innovation to enhance patient safety

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Karen Giuliano, PhD, RN

Peggy McDaniel

Home infusion nurses deliver complex therapies in non-traditional settings, often without immediate access to emergency support. This session equips infusion nurses with evidence-based strategies to recognize and manage 3 common and potentially overlapping complications: infusion-related reactions, symptomatic hypoglycemia, and vasovagal responses.  

Drawing from structured clinical guidelines, participants will learn to perform assessments, apply medication administration protocols, and follow escalation pathways tailored for the home environment. Learners will leave with a structured framework for clinical decision-making, patient safety, and communication with providers and emergency medical services (EMS). 

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

• Describe the clinical presentation of infusion-related reactions, hypoglycemia, and vasovagal events in home infusion care 
• Discuss structured clinical response protocols for managing each complication, including rescue medication and escalation procedures 
• Explain how to differentiate overlapping symptoms to guide appropriate intervention and escalation 
• Apply documentation and communication best practices following an adverse event in the home setting 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Krista Veteto

In today’s dynamic health care environment, organizations face increasing demands to elevate patient care, enhance population health, improve staff well-being, and optimize operational efficiency. Embracing an interdisciplinary model for vascular access services presents a strategic opportunity to meet these demands. By aligning clinical, administrative, and operational teams, institutions can foster meaningful collaboration that leads to innovative, patient-centered solutions. This approach not only strengthens care quality and outcomes but also promotes efficient and sustainable health care delivery. 

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

• Describe the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in health care, with a focus on vascular access 
• Discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving clinical and operational outcomes 
• Explain the clinician’s role in fostering and sustaining interdisciplinary collaboration 
• Identify common barriers and key success factors for successful interdisciplinary collaboration  

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Carla Dillard, MSN, RN, VA-BC

More information coming soon...

Contact Hours: 1
CRNI® RUs: 2

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

As was reported in January 2025, nurses have been rated as highly honest and ethical by 75% of respondents. This is among 23 professions rated. It is the 23rd consecutive year nurses have been rated as the most honest and ethical profession. This places a moral and professional responsibility for nurses to help people achieve equity and eliminate disparities in health care. The public trusts nurses to help them heal and be as healthy as possible. The problem lies in a lack of training and education for nurses in ways to achieve these goals. This presentation aims to provide a foundational understanding and practical resources to empower nurses in reducing disparities and advancing equity in health care for their patients.  

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

• Define the core concepts of health equity, health disparities, and social determinants of health 
• Differentiate between implicit bias and stereotype assumptions, and analyze how the differences in patients' backgrounds influence these biases 
• Apply effective patient education strategies to improve patient self-management and overall health outcomes 
• Examine various models for healthcare organizations to effectively collaborate with external partners to improve access to health care resources 
• Formulate a plan to advocate for change in legislation and policy that improves access to and equity in health care.   

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Marvin Siegel, BS, RN, CRNI®

Nurses face persistent challenges in ensuring the complete and safe delivery of infusion medications. Factors, such as infusion pump limitations, tubing configurations, and small-volume drug formulations, often result in incomplete dosing and medication waste. While this is especially critical with antineoplastic agents, the issue extends across a wide range of infusion therapies. These challenges often go unrecognized by other health care professionals, leaving nurses to manage the consequences—potentially compromising patient safety and care quality. 

Interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between nurses and pharmacists, is essential to address these barriers. By aligning workflows and understanding each other's roles, teams can reduce drug waste, improve dosing accuracy, and enhance safety in handling hazardous drugs. This presentation will offer practical strategies to optimize infusion practices, minimize patient wait times, and support safe, effective administration of both antineoplastic and supportive therapies. 

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

• Explain the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between nurses and pharmacists, in optimizing infusion therapy practices 
• Identify strategies to align nursing and pharmacy workflows to improve dosing accuracy, reduce drug waste, and enhance safety in handling hazardous and nonhazardous drugs 
• Describe the negative consequences of inaccurate administration of small volume antineoplastics and supportive care medications, as well as other medication therapies given by infusion 
• Discuss 3 administration methods that minimize residual drug volume, reduce waste, and limit staff exposure to hazardous drugs 
• Describe the infusion pump and tubing challenges that impact the safe and accurate administration of antineoplastic and other infused drugs 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Mikaela Olsen, DNP, APRN-CNS, AOCNS®, FAAN

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) occurs in 30% to 60% of patients receiving chemotherapy, with limited options for treatment once symptoms develop. Evidence suggests that cryotherapy can reduce CIPN by inducing vasoconstriction and limiting drug exposure to peripheral nerves. In this session, we will discuss the development and implementation of an evidence-based cryotherapy intervention, outcomes demonstrating reduced CIPN incidence and severity, and lessons learned regarding patient adherence, staff training, and workflow integration. Participants will gain strategies to translate similar interventions into their own oncology practice settings.  

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

• Describe the evidence surrounding the incidence and clinical impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and the gap in effective preventive interventions  
• Explain the physiological mechanisms by which cryotherapy reduces the risk of CIPN in patients receiving chemotherapy 
• Discuss patient- and treatment-related factors identified in the implementation project that influence cryotherapy adherence and CIPN outcomes 
• Apply lessons learned from this project to enhance cryotherapy adherence, address barriers to cold tolerance, and integrate similar interventions into clinical workflows  

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Andrew Granada,

Adrienne Turri,

Luer lock connections are essential for managing vascular access devices and equipment used in infusion therapies across inpatient, outpatient, and home care settings.  However, due to the difficulty of disconnecting some of these devices, many workarounds have been implemented, leading to possible complications such as medication errors and risk of infection. By learning proper connection and disconnection procedures, these complications, including central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), can be reduced and even prevented. This session will discuss the application of systems-based thinking to identify and address disconnection challenges, tool improvisation, and training gaps, resulting in a nurse-centered prototype designed to reduce catheter-related complications, improve patient safety and satisfaction, and decrease health care costs. 

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

• Explain how tool availability and training may influence nurses’ use of workarounds with catheter luer disconnections 
• Describe the impact of workarounds on patient safety, catheter management, and nursing workflow efficiency 
• Evaluate the benefits of a nurse-centered disconnection device in reducing health care costs and improving patient safety and patient satisfaction outcomes 
• Apply evidence-based and systems-based strategies to enhance catheter disconnection practices, including training opportunities across various health care settings 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Amy Cole,

Successful intravenous (IV) catheter insertion is critical to the patient experience in oncology care, where repeated failed attempts can lead to increased anxiety, discomfort, and delays in treatment. This session will examine a study conducted at an outpatient oncology infusion center to determine the success rate of first-attempt IV insertion in 200 oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. It will also evaluate associations with total Oncology Difficult Intravenous Access (ONC-DIVA) scores and individual tool items, using the newly piloted ONC-DIVA assessment tool designed to identify patients at risk for difficult IV access. Using a cross-sectional observational design, the 10-item ONC-DIVA tool was completed during routine vein assessment prior to IV catheter insertion. Each item was scored as 0 (no) or 1 (yes), and a total score was calculated. Data on IV attempts, demographics, clinical factors, and venipuncture characteristics were extracted from the electronic medical record. 

Results showed a 73% success rate for first-attempt IV insertion. No demographic or clinical predictors were identified, but total ONC-DIVA scores were significantly associated with success (P = .037). While oncology-specific items showed no significant differences, vein visibility and palpability were significant predictors (P = .021 and P = .017). These findings support further research and may help clinicians improve IV success rates or determine when central venous access is needed. 

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

• Identify the importance of DIVA in oncology patients 
• Demonstrate understanding of a vein assessment tool like the ONC-DIVA tool 
• Describe the purpose and components of the ONC-DIVA tool used to assess vein characteristics prior to IV catheter insertion in oncology patients 
• Identify which individual vein characteristics (visibility and palpability) are significant predictors of IV insertion success 
• Describe the relationship between total ONC-DIVA scores and first-attempt IV insertion success, including statistical significance and implications 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Emely Alfaro,

Nurses are often the first to recognize when patients are confused, overwhelmed, or hesitant about treatment decisions. This session provides hands-on strategies to strengthen your role as an educator and advocate in infusion care. You will learn how to apply the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) SHARE model, use teach-back effectively and integrate decision aids and patient guides into your daily workflow. Practical tips on plain-language communication, documenting education for accreditation, and supporting patients in making informed choices will be emphasized. Through interactive scenarios and real-world examples, you will leave with concrete skills to build trust, enhance safety, and amplify the nursing voice in patient partnerships.  

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

• Apply a structured shared decision-making (SDM) approach (eg, AHRQ SHARE) to compare reasonable options, communicate benefits/harms numerically, and align choices with patient priorities 
• Use health-literacy best practices (plain language, chunk-and-check, teach-back) to verify patient understanding and readiness for self-management
• Integrate discipline-specific roles into SDM:
  • Nurses – operationalize coaching, symptom monitoring, and teach-back
• Embed patient decision aids and patient-facing therapy standards guides into clinic or infusion workflows to support advocacy and safety
• Document education that meets accreditor expectations (assessment of needs, delivery, and evaluation of effectiveness)

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2

Amy Clarke, RN, IgCN, Director of Nursing Clinical Program Services