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