INS 2024 Virtual Conference

INS 2024 Virtual Conference will provide a great alternative for those who are not able to attend the in-person event. Participants will have the ability to attend 18 select sessions virtually and on-demand. This option also enables CRNI®s to earn up to 36 recertification units (RUs). The virtual conference will include some of the sessions in the Vascular Access Device (VAD) Track devoted to an important aspect of infusion therapy, vascular access devices as well as sessions included in the Alternative Care Setting Track dedicated to the care of patients outside of acute care settings.

  • Contains 1 Component(s)

    Please complete the meeting evaluation to receive your continuing education certificate. Your feedback is important, as it helps INS better serve you and the membership. We need your input to continue to provide you with quality programs.

    Please complete the meeting evaluation to receive your continuing education certificate. Your feedback is important, as it helps INS better serve you and the membership. We need your input to continue to provide you with quality programs.

    Available at the end of the conference.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    The practice of home infusion therapy continues to grow with an expanding base of research to guide practice. Recognizing this, a new Standard, Home Infusion Therapy, was added to the 2024 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. This new Standard provides guidance for safe transitioning of patients to home infusion and safe practices for a variety of home infusion therapies. This Standard also addresses patient education and ongoing monitoring. In this session, we will detail this new Standard as well as how to incorporate guidance from additional Standards with applicability to home infusion therapy.

    The practice of home infusion therapy continues to grow with an expanding base of research to guide practice. Recognizing this, a new Standard, Home Infusion Therapy, was added to the 2024 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. This new Standard provides guidance for safe transitioning of patients to home infusion and safe practices for a variety of home infusion therapies. This Standard also addresses patient education and ongoing monitoring. In this session, we will detail this new Standard as well as how to incorporate guidance from additional Standards with applicability to home infusion therapy.

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

    • Summarize patient-related and organizational factors to be considered when planning for home infusion.
    • Examine environmental safety issues that potentially impact the plan for home care.
    • Evaluate benefits, issues, and risks associated with the various categories of infusion therapies that can be administered in the home.
    • Identify important aspects of patient assessment and ongoing monitoring.
    • Recognize the importance of patient/caregiver education and support as critical to safe home infusion therapy. 

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

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

    Lisa Gorski has worked for over 35 years as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)/educator for Wheaton Franciscan Home Health and Hospice, now Ascension at Home. Lisa is the author of more than 70 book chapters and journal articles and is the author of several books. She has served as the INS president from 2007-2008 and as the chair of the INS Standards of Practice Committee from 2009 to 2021, and is the cochair for the 2024 Standards. She is also the leader of the INS Vesicant Task Force. She speaks nationally and internationally on standards development, home health care, and infusion therapy/vascular access.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    The major shift to the use of peripheral vascular access devices (PVADs) to avoid central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) has created major patient safety challenges. Administration of medications inappropriate for peripheral administration, disregard for catheter-to-vein ratio, and repeated replacement of failed catheters is supposedly tolerated as a trade-off for CLABSI reduction. However, CLABSI rates have increased while PVAD bloodstream infection (BSI) rates are nearly equivalent to CLABSI rates, and at the same time, thrombotic events have increased with the loss of peripheral vasculature. Can we improve on these outcomes? The peripheral midclavicular catheter with the tip positioned at the juncture of the axillary and subclavian vein was abandoned in the mid-1990s due to a perceived increase in catheter-related venous thrombosis. More recently, global experience with catheter tip position in the proximal axillary vein and distal subclavian vein has demonstrated improved outcomes compared to other peripheral catheters. What are the differences in practice and evidence on PVADs from the time of the INS and AVA position statements until now? In this session, we will examine the differences in outcomes among PVADs, specifically midclavicular (midline) and midline (mini-midline) catheter tip positions as well as discuss implementation of the midclavicular catheter.

    The major shift to the use of peripheral vascular access devices (PVADs) to avoid central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) has created major patient safety challenges.   Administration of medications inappropriate for peripheral administration, disregard for catheter-to-vein ratio, and repeated replacement of failed catheters is supposedly tolerated as a trade-off for CLABSI reduction. However, CLABSI rates have increased while PVAD bloodstream infection (BSI) rates are nearly equivalent to CLABSI rates, and at the same time, thrombotic events have increased with the loss of peripheral vasculature. Can we improve on these outcomes? The peripheral midclavicular catheter with the tip positioned at the juncture of the axillary and subclavian vein was abandoned in the mid-1990s due to a perceived increase in catheter-related venous thrombosis. More recently, global experience with catheter tip position in the proximal axillary vein and distal subclavian vein has demonstrated improved outcomes compared to other peripheral catheters. What are the differences in practice and evidence on PVADs from the time of the INS and AVA position statements until now? In this session, we will examine the differences in outcomes among PVADs, specifically midclavicular (midline) and midline (mini-midline) catheter tip positions as well as discuss implementation of the midclavicular catheter.

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

    • Describe the flow dynamics, anatomical differences, and complications between superficial upper extremity veins, deep basilic or brachial vein, axillary, and subclavian catheter tip positions.
    • Explain the appropriate selection and complication risk between PVAD catheter tip positions.  
    • Discuss a process for implementation of midclavicular catheters into clinical practice: continuous quality improvement.

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Marcia Ryder, PhD, MS, RN

    Dr. Marcia Ryder's extensive experience in nursing includes positions as a clinical director of a special care unit and a cardiovascular/thoracic unit, a clinical nurse specialist in nutrition support, and a director of nursing in home infusion. Dr. Ryder received a nursing diploma from the Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh and her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of California, San Francisco. She is currently an independent collaborative researcher and consultant in medical biofilm related infections, where her research includes in vitro, in vivo, and clinical investigations. Dr. Ryder is also a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the use and management of vascular access devices, and has been an invited speaker to state, national, and international conferences and has authored numerous publications. She has served as President of AVA, Chair of APIC’s Scientific Research Council, and President of the AVA Foundation for Patient Safety, and was the recipient of the 2017 Suzanne Herbst Award for Excellence in Vascular Access awarded by AVA. Dr. Ryder is currently the president of the Vascular Access Patient Safety Alliance (VAPSA), a distinguished fellow of the National Academies of Practice, and a National Quality Forum Hospital-Onset Bacteremia and Fungemia Technical Expert Panelist.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Quality improvement (QI) in vascular access, infusion practices, and overall patient experience is best achieved through a multidisciplinary approach, using both internal and external expertise. In this session, we will discuss how a large community hospital successfully included representation from the industry on QI efforts, including product representatives, clinicians, administrators, and research and development teams. Teams met directly at the bedside, assessing the patient’s current vascular access status, including site assessment, dressing assessment, and administration set management, and discussing with the patient and staff any complications. Data was then documented and aggregated to identifying priorities for improvement and shared with internal stakeholders. This session will describe how building relationships between the hospital and industry partners and working together to optimize device performance and patient outcomes provides a powerful opportunity for both parties to enhance their practice.

    Quality improvement (QI) in vascular access, infusion practices, and overall patient experience is best achieved through a multidisciplinary approach, using both internal and external expertise. In this session, we will discuss how a large community hospital successfully included representation from the industry on QI efforts, including product representatives, clinicians, administrators, and research and development teams. Teams met directly at the bedside, assessing the patient’s current vascular access status, including site assessment, dressing assessment, and administration set management, and discussing with the patient and staff any complications. Data was then documented and aggregated to identifying priorities for improvement and shared with internal stakeholders. This session will describe how building relationships between the hospital and industry partners and working together to optimize device performance and patient outcomes provides a powerful opportunity for both parties to enhance their practice.  

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

    • Describe how multidisciplinary rounds can be expanded to include stakeholders outside of the organization, including industry representation.
    • Discuss a framework where expertise can be shared to optimize collaboration and address organization priorities.
    • Explain key metrics assessed and how data is communicated to facilitate improvements.

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Michelle DeVries, MPH, CIC, VA-BC, CPHQ, FAPIC

    Michelle DeVries has been involved in infection prevention and hospital epidemiology for 30 years, spanning community, university, and federal health care facilities as well as postacute care settings. She is passionate about raising awareness around vascular access device complications and devotes her time to education on this topic with an emphasis on data collection and analysis. She was a reviewer for the 2016 and 2021 INS Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice and is now serving on the committee as an author for the 2024 Standards. She is a senior adjunct research fellow with the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR), a past director-at-large with Vascular Access Certification Corporation (VACC), and the president of the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) for 2024.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) is a defined term that includes a clinical practice framework that should be used for all invasive procedures. Nurses Stephen Rowley and Simon Clare developed this framework based on evidence-based principles of effective hand hygiene, appropriate infection control precautions, nontouch technique for all procedures, and the concept that key parts and key sites must only touch other aseptic key parts and key sites. It is important to reiterate that ANTT® is designed and used for all invasive procedures, from major surgery to the simple maintenance of indwelling medical devices. The principles of the ANTT® practice framework incorporate two approaches to maintaining asepsis and include a simple risk assessment for determining the most appropriate approach. This session will discuss how to apply this practice framework in unique settings, including in a person's home, in the field, or when working with those who are unsuitably housed.

    Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) is a defined term that includes a clinical practice framework that should be used for all invasive procedures. Nurses Stephen Rowley and Simon Clare developed this framework based on evidence-based principles of effective hand hygiene, appropriate infection control precautions, nontouch technique for all procedures, and the concept that key parts and key sites must only touch other aseptic key parts and key sites. It is important to reiterate that ANTT® is designed and used for all invasive procedures, from major surgery to the simple maintenance of indwelling medical devices. The principles of the ANTT® practice framework incorporate two approaches to maintaining asepsis and include a simple risk assessment for determining the most appropriate approach. This session will discuss how to apply this practice framework in unique settings, including in a person's home, in the field, or when working with those who are unsuitably housed.

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

    • Define Aseptic Non Touch Technique.
    • Discuss challenges in maintaining aseptic technique in unique settings.
    • Debate the use of standard versus surgical ANTT® in a home setting.
    • Differentiate key parts and key sites.
    • Identify challenges in incorporating ANTT® outside of acute care settings.
    • Debunk myths regarding sterile technique, medical asepsis, and other terms used over the past decades.

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Karen Laforet, RN, MClSc-WH, CCHN(C), CVAA(c), VA-BC™

    Karen Laforet is founder and senior clinical consultant for LK Professional Consulting Group. The company focuses on clinical practice implementation, quality improvement, and legal consultation primarily for vascular access, infusion therapy, and skin health. She is also a part-time faculty member with York University's Health Leadership and Learning Network, where she teaches postgraduate nursing continuing professional development, and has presented her work nationally and internationally and has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Karen has a deep commitment to improve patient safety and health outcomes through the application of evidence into practice for medication and infusion therapy, pain and symptom management, skin health integrity and health policy advocacy. Karen is a committee member with the provincial nursing regulatory agency, the College of Nurses of Ontario; is serving on the National Coalition for IV Push Safety (NCIVPS); is a member of and on the editorial review committee for the Infusion Nurses Society (INS); and is involved with the Association of Vascular Access (AVA) as a committee member for the Clinical Practice Guideline Group and as current president-elect. Karen continues to work clinically in the community and long-term care areas.
  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Safe and reliable vascular access serves as the cornerstone for medication administration and the regular monitoring of patients in modern health care. However, despite their ubiquity and necessity, vascular access devices are not without risks or complications. Various strategies have been employed to prevent or mitigate intravenous catheter-related complications, including optimizing patency through continuous infusion or intermittent flushes with normal saline, heparin, antibiotics, and/or ethanol locks; less frequent catheter and infusion set changes; the use of in-line filters; and the establishment of designated intravenous therapy teams. Despite these interventions, peripheral intravenous catheters exhibit a failure rate of 20–69% due to occlusion, while central venous catheters' failure rate due to occlusion ranges from 15% to 66%, depending on the type of device, the clinical setting, and the patient population. Repeated catheter insertions necessitated by failed catheters result in multiple penetrations of the skin barrier, increased patient discomfort, extended staff time, and an elevated risk of infection from skin commensals. Such infections can be life-threatening for chronically and critically ill patients. Therefore, methods capable of prolonging the viability of both peripheral and central venous catheters hold significant potential for improving patient outcomes and the quality of care provided by health care organizations. This presentation will delve into current research on the risk and prevalence of complications associated with vascular access devices as well as the current evidence pertaining to flushing, locking, and occlusion management.

    Safe and reliable vascular access serves as the cornerstone for medication administration and the regular monitoring of patients in modern health care. However, despite their ubiquity and necessity, vascular access devices are not without risks or complications. Various strategies have been employed to prevent or mitigate intravenous catheter-related complications, including optimizing patency through continuous infusion or intermittent flushes with normal saline, heparin, antibiotics, and/or ethanol locks; less frequent catheter and infusion set changes; the use of in-line filters; and the establishment of designated intravenous therapy teams. Despite these interventions, peripheral intravenous catheters exhibit a failure rate of 20–69% due to occlusion, while central venous catheters' failure rate due to occlusion ranges from 15% to 66%, depending on the type of device, the clinical setting, and the patient population. Repeated catheter insertions necessitated by failed catheters result in multiple penetrations of the skin barrier, increased patient discomfort, extended staff time, and an elevated risk of infection from skin commensals. Such infections can be life-threatening for chronically and critically ill patients. Therefore, methods capable of prolonging the viability of both peripheral and central venous catheters hold significant potential for improving patient outcomes and the quality of care provided by health care organizations. This presentation will delve into current research on the risk and prevalence of complications associated with vascular access devices as well as the current evidence pertaining to flushing, locking, and occlusion management.

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

    1. Understand the risks associated with vascular access insertion and utilization.
    2. Identify the contributing factors to vascular access device occlusion and failure.
    3. Describe current practices and available products used to mitigate the risks of vascular access occlusion and failure.

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Samantha Keogh, PhD, BSc(hon), RN, FACN, IC Cert

    Samantha Keogh is a joint professor of acute and critical care nursing with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Australia. Samantha is also a senior researcher with QUT’s Centre for Healthcare Transformation and the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR). Her clinical background is in intensive care (adult and pediatric), so she understands the importance of vascular access to deliver essential medication, fluids, and blood products, as well as to facilitate vital monitoring and sampling. Samantha is a fellow of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) plus a member of several other specialty-based colleges, societies, and networks, including the Australasian Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Trials Network (ANMCTN), a network developed to support, mentor, and accelerate growth in nursing and midwifery clinical trials capability and capacity across Australia.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Sepsis is a medical emergency that is often challenging to diagnose. During this session we will discuss what sepsis really is, how to treat it, and how vascular access and infusion nurses can make a difference in the lives of septic patients. At the end of the session, attendees will be able to create possible solutions to meet standards of care for the septic patient.

    Sepsis is a medical emergency that is often challenging to diagnose. During this session we will discuss what sepsis really is, how to treat it, and how vascular access and infusion nurses can make a difference in the lives of septic patients. At the end of the session, attendees will be able to create possible solutions to meet standards of care for the septic patient.  

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

    • Describe sepsis and the sepsis 3- and 6-hour bundles.
    • Discuss why sepsis care is important.
    • Explain how the vascular access and infusion nurse can help patients combat sepsis.
    • Apply knowledge about sepsis care to create possible solutions to treat septic patients. 

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Amanda Ferguson, BSN, RN

    Amanda Ferguson is a peer review and performance improvement coordinator for UofL Health Jewish Hospital. An RN for over 10 years, she has spent more than 2 years in her current position as the subject matter expert for sepsis at the Jewish Hospital. Chairperson and founder of the Jewish Hospital Sepsis Committee and a leader of multiple sepsis quality improvement projects, Amanda’s previous career experience includes ED charge RN, care manager, and wound care center director.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This session will describe the development process and outcomes of a pilot program to broaden the vascular access skills of bedside nursing staff to include phlebotomy. It will discuss relevance for this practice, recommended support for this practice, and implementing evidence-based practice. Additional discussion in this session will include outcome monitoring and working through identified barriers to the program.

    This session will describe the development process and outcomes of a pilot program to broaden the vascular access skills of bedside nursing staff to include phlebotomy. It will discuss relevance for this practice, recommended support for this practice, and implementing evidence-based practice. Additional discussion in this session will include outcome monitoring and working through identified barriers to the program.

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

    • Describe the value of specialty training for bedside nursing staff to perform ultrasound-guided IV insertion and phlebotomy. 
    • Discuss the process for program development and outcomes monitoring.
    • Recognize potential barriers to implementation and sustainability.

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Britt Meyer, PhD, RN, CRNI®, VA-BC, NE-BC

    Duke University Hospital

    Dr. Britt Meyer, chair of the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation, leads the vascular access team at Duke University Hospital and presents nationally and internationally on a variety of infusion and vascular access topics. She is well-published in the specialty and is passionate about empowering clinicians to provide safe and effective care. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the East Carolina University School of Nursing.
  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Vascular access contains inherent risks. Some complications of access are minor, but others are limb- or life-threatening. Infusion nurses need an understanding of the pathophysiology behind serious adverse vascular access complications to appropriately prevent or respond to these emergencies. In this session, we will review the most serious vascular access emergencies and prepare nurses to respond when every second matters.

    Vascular access contains inherent risks. Some complications of access are minor, but others are limb- or life-threatening. Infusion nurses need an understanding of the pathophysiology behind serious adverse vascular access complications to appropriately prevent or respond to these emergencies. In this session, we will review the most serious vascular access emergencies and prepare nurses to respond when every second matters.  

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

    • Describe the pathophysiology of 4 vascular access emergencies.
    • Identify an imminent or evolving vascular access emergency.
    • Anticipate appropriate interventions for 4 vascular access emergencies.

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Jon Bell, MSN, RN, VA-BC

    Jon Bell is a master’s prepared RN with more than 25 years of emergency medical experience and 15 years of experience in surgical care. He has combined his backgrounds to specialize in vascular access education and built a successful vascular access specialist team. He went on to gain experience as a clinical consultant working for multiple companies to support vascular access device training. Jon received board certification in vascular access in 2018 and is actively involved in the Association for Vascular Access (AVA), serving as a board member and officer in the past. He has presented at multiple national and regional conferences speaking about vascular access process improvement and research, and is currently the director of emergency and cardiopulmonary services at Mount Desert Island Hospital.
  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    When a brisk blood return is not obtained from an implanted vascular access device (IVAD), infusion nurses are faced with difficult questions: Is it safe to use the device? Is starting a peripheral IV always the right answer? Because intermittent patency or occlusion of an IVAD can delay treatments and increase health care costs, infusion nurses are uniquely positioned to impact treatment planning when patency concerns arise. Individualized treatment planning may require deviation from algorithms and consideration of patient-specific factors such as medical history, clinical presentation, living situation, beliefs, and ability to participate in care decisions. In this session, we will critically examine IVAD clinical scenarios and consider potential interventions for suboptimal device patency.

    When a brisk blood return is not obtained from an implanted vascular access device (IVAD), infusion nurses are faced with difficult questions: Is it safe to use the device? Is starting a peripheral IV always the right answer? Because intermittent patency or occlusion of an IVAD can delay treatments and increase health care costs, infusion nurses are uniquely positioned to impact treatment planning when patency concerns arise. Individualized treatment planning may require deviation from algorithms and consideration of patient-specific factors such as medical history, clinical presentation, living situation, beliefs, and ability to participate in care decisions. In this session, we will critically examine IVAD clinical scenarios and consider potential interventions for suboptimal device patency. 

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

    1. Define patency and the three types of occlusions: complete, partial, and withdrawal.
    2. Describe the factors used to assess and individualize a patient's treatment plan when IVAD patency is lacking or intermittent. 
    3. Identify evidence-based interventions for IVADs presenting without a brisk blood return. 

    Contact Hours: 1
    CRNI® RUs: 2

    Mary Jo Sarver, MN, ARNP, AOCN, CRNI®, VA-BC, LNC

    CEO

    Sarver Better Living

    Mary Jo Sarver, MN, ARNP, AOCN, CRNI®, VA-BC, LNC, has more than 37 years of experience in infusion therapy and oncology/hematology care. Her role focuses on continuity of care and seamless transitions for patients within and outside the acute care setting. She collaborates and acts as a consultant locally and on a system level for Providence, guiding staff development, competency assessment, and process improvement to improve outcomes in multiple areas of clinical practice and new graduate transition to practice. She attends cancer care conferences, rounds in the clinics and hospital, and actively consults and sees patients and families for treatment and care planning. She has published, conducted research, and spoken on multiple topics within the United States. For decades, passion has prompted her to participate both locally on the Puget Sound Infusion Nurses Society (PSINS), Puget Sound Oncology Nursing Society (PSONS), and American Cancer Society (ACS) boards and to nationally assume various roles through the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) and Oncology Nursing Society) (ONS). She is CEO of Sarver Better Living Products LLC, a family-run company.