Vascular Access Nurses

In general, a Vascular Access Nurse provides access to a patient’s circulatory system through the insertion of a small, thin tube called a catheter. The degree of complexity of the catheter (aka, the Vascular Access Device (VAD)) in the body can range from IVs, Peripheral IVs (PIVs), and Midlines, contained in the arms, all the way to Central Venous Catheters (CVCs), including Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs), Axillary lines, Internal Jugulars (IJs) and Femoral lines (Fems). The Vascular Access Nurse inserts CVCs either in the arm (e.g., PICC) or in the central part of the body (chest, neck, or leg) and ends in the large veins leading to the heart such as in the Superior Vena Cava (SVC) or Inferior Vena Cava (IVC). The venous access allows efficient and safe delivery of medications and therapies to the body, and some allow blood draws. A vascular access nurse generally receives training for IVs, PIVs, Midlines, and PICCs but not for advanced procedures (e.g., small bore and large bore lines).

Vascular Wellness refers to our clinical nurses as a vascular access clinicians, and takes a comprehensive approach to vascular access and evaluates a patient’s physical condition and medical history before any vascular access device placement. Clinicians analyze the patient’s medical and laboratory data as well as the managing physician’s therapy plan and follow best practices for vein preservation to help prevent any side effects such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVTs), bleeding or infection. The clinicians work with the managing physician to develop the best venous catheter placement and often, the physician defers to the Vascular Wellness clinician to recommend and place the most clinically appropriate vascular access device. Vascular Wellness is particularly proud of this deference from the medical staff and is very proud of every vascular access clinician. READ MORE about how we provide extensive employee and client training.