For the student nurse, peripheral intravenous insertion represents one of the most difficult and stressful skills they must learn. Some healthcare establishments offer courses on vascular access as part of their onboarding programs for graduate nurses but ultimately the responsibility to ensure that novice nurses are prepared should be shared between the educational institution and the employer. When the Ingram School of Nursing at McGill University undertook a revision of the 3- and 4-year BScN program in 2016, this presented an opportunity to revise how vascular access and infusion nursing (VAIN), including PIV management, was taught. A literature search and review of the nursing entry-to-practice competencies was completed, and, with a content expert, the VAIN curriculum content was developed and woven into courses throughout the entire BScN program.
This curriculum proved to be unique in undergraduate nursing education. Increased practice in the nursing lab and more focused teaching has improved student confidence and competence. An off-shoot of this venture was the birth of VASC, the Vascular Access Student Club, which won the 2020 - CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award from the Canadian Vascular Access Association. The award recognizes their important contributions made in vascular access management and infusion therapy practice with a focus on peripheral IV therapy. The three student founding members were third place/regional winners. See https://cvaa.info/en/news-events/current-news/id/185/2020-cvaa-bd-award-winners