Learning Center

Intravenous (IV) iron is a crucial treatment option for iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), especially in cases where oral iron supplements are insufficient, poorly tolerated, or ineffective. It is important for clinicians who are infusing IV iron to understand how to administer IV iron, assess and intervene if hypersensitivity reactions occur, and treat post-infusion hypophosphatemia. In this session, we will provide guidance on the administration of and classification of IV iron formulations, classification of, and management of infusion reactions and treatment-emergent hypophosphatemia.

Selecting the appropriate vascular access device is critical when administering high-risk medications. Infusion nurses often face institutional barriers that prevent them from following evidence-based guidelines, leading to patient harm. This session provides an overview of the risks associated with incorrect device selection and introduces the INS 2024 Vesicant List as a tool for guiding safe infusion practices. Learners will explore how decision-making support tools can empower nurses to advocate for appropriate care. In this session, we will examine how clinical judgment, updated guidelines, and technology can work together to improve vascular access outcomes.

Come learn how to handle the pitfalls in infusion nursing delivery. In this session, we will review the legal challenges with infusion nursing liability and offer reduction strategies. You will gain the tools you need in today’s lawsuit-prone health care system so you can protect one of your greatest assets—your nursing license. This is vital information for every infusion nurse.

There is a lack of standardized IV push medication preparation and administration teaching strategies used in nursing programs throughout the US. This lack of standardization creates an alarming variation in clinical practice that places patients at a higher risk of harm. A new Evidence-Based Practice guide and checklist of best practice standards Based on INS’s Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice and ISMP’s Safe Practice Guidelines for Adult IV Push Medications has been published to educate student nurses, novice nurses, and experienced nurses, to assess competency in skill acquisition related to IV push medication administration.

Over the last decade, infusion nurses have been increasingly challenged by patients presenting with difficult vascular access, which is often the result of age, comorbidities, or damage from previous failed vascular access devices. Selecting and inserting the right device to meet patients’ clinical needs has become more difficult, and has been worsened by complex organizational factors. Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) continue to be the default devices chosen for short-to-moderate term peripherally compatible intravenous treatments. Although midline catheters (MCs) offer an alternate option, the uptake of this device has been limited due to a lack of clinical data supporting their use. This presentation will provide an overview of recent research involving MCs. It will include a summary of international guidelines and share the results from two recent randomised controlled trials (MCs vs PIVCs; MCs vs PICCs) conducted in Brisbane, Australia.

Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are among the most frequently used medical devices, yet the optimal choice between integrated and non-integrated systems is still debated. Despite strong conceptual advantages for integrated designs, real-world evidence has not consistently demonstrated superiority across all clinical contexts. This session will explore current evidence, practical implications, and cost–benefit considerations for device selection. Drawing on recent trials and clinical experience, we will discuss when integrated catheters may offer measurable benefit and when non-integrated devices may perform equally well. Participants will gain tools to interpret the evidence within the context of their own clinical environment and patient population

Over 2 billion intravascular devices are inserted globally each year, and determining optimal maintenance protocols is challenging. Literature cites late complications of central venous access devices (CVAD) range from 7.2% to 32.1%. Implanted vascular access devices (IVADs) are quoted to have lower risk than other CVADs but are not risk-free. Despite risk, patients often retain their devices for extended periods. In this session, we will review the basics of care and management of IVADs and let evidence-based practice guide the way to minimizing potential complications.

In 2017, INS formed a Vesicant Task Force (VTF) with the goal to formulate an evidence-based list of noncytotoxic vesicant medications and solutions. At the conclusion of that work, the VTF recommended that the list be updated on a regular basis as new data emerge and as new medications are introduced into the market. So, in 2021, a new VTF was formed to review the literature and revise the 2017 vesicant list. Recognition of vesicants and their relative risk of injury is essential to extravasation prevention, early recognition, and appropriate treatment. To this end, the VTF developed and published an updated Extravasation Prevention Checklist in 2024. We are pleased to share this updated Extravasation Prevention Checklist in the INS Learning Center. To access the checklist, click "Register" and log in. Then, you can download the official document.

Did you know that the properties of Infusion therapy play a crucial role in determining the most appropriate vascular access device for patients? They are critical factors to consider and can have a significant impact on patient care and outcomes. By understanding the importance of these properties, we can ensure that our patients receive the best possible treatment. During this session, we will explore this topic further to ensure we provide the best care for our patients.