Kathy Mohn, R.N., president of the Nevada Vascular Access Network (NEWAN), presented the Community Commendation Award to the University Medical Center Children’s Center for their excellence in intravenous (IV) care. UMC’s Children’s Center is the first to receive the Community Commendation Award.

UMC’s Children’s Center participated in the IV Site Surveillance Program, which dramatically increased IV care awareness and reduced the occurrence of IV infiltrations. IV infiltration occurs when an IV catheter punctures or withdraws from a vein causing the needle and/or fluid to enter the tissues. As a result nerve damage and tissue sloughing may occur.

As a nurse, the health and safety of each patient is always a major concern,  said Cynthia Jones, Interim Clinical Manager for the pediatric unit and the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Taking the initiative is another step towards improving the quality of care.  Jones continuously stresses to staff the importance of frequently checking each patient’s IV line in order to prevent IV infiltration. 

The Association for Vascular Access formed in 1985 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The founders created the multidisciplinary Vascular Access Device (VAD) Network to address the many complexities of vascular access devices and their use. In 1990, the Association for Vascular Access became a national organization.

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