10th IVNNZ Conference

Submitted by Rebecca Haywood, CNM Te Kuiti/Taumarunui/Tokoroa Community Services Waikato DHB. Originally printed in June 2007 IVNNZ Inc. Newsletter

The 10th Intravenous Nursing of New Zealand Conference was held in Christchurch from 6th March to 9th March 2007.

"Celebrate 10" was the conference title. Three full days packed with everything I needed to know and more.

The key note speaker was Jan Henning Austners from Norway.

Jan, a Nurse and Science Graduate who spoke on his commitment to best patient outcomes through best practice, seeking the most efficient and safer methods of administering I.V Therapy across the patient spectrum by promoting and improving patient care.

Jan presented papers on

• Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow: The basics.
• Shocking, unbelievable and very very dangerous: The facts.
• The patient - The Nurse - The Safety Issues.

Jan spoke on the facts that I.V Therapy is forever changing but the only thing that never changes is the patient and the focus on their safety. The need to ensure that education is delivered to enhance learning will lead to some assurance that safety can be maintained when dealing with I.V Therapy. Pump Therapy is advancing in the delivery of I.V Therapy and today "smart pumps" are available but we as Health Professionals have the responsibility to have the knowledge and skill to ensure infusions are used safely.

Jan then gave true examples of errors that have been made. A very sobering thought, that can have a severe impact on the patient if we do not get it right the first time.

Marion Clarke from the Nursing Council of New Zealand spoke on the "Nurse advocacy in relation to patient safety". The paper provided an overview of the nurse's legal requirements under the Health Practitioners Competencies with many examples relating to I.V Practice and Delivery. The focus being in the Nurses role in relationship to patient safety, including being an advocate for the patient, the Nurses own practice and the practice of other Health Professional. The session highlighted the need to be and remain competent and with the increasing errors that are occurring ,and the need for accurate and full documentation.

Numerous papers at the conference reflected on patient safety and the need for solutions to be found to improve patient safety. Questions were asked as to

• How do errors occur
• How many errors get reported
• Drug errors/human errors
• Correct administration of drugs

These questions made me reflect in my own practice.

The community was represented with two excellent papers on

• Anaphylaxis - Do we need to protect the I.V outpatient client?
• Management of port-a-caths in the community rural setting.

The description of an anaphylactic episode of a patient in the community and the journey in trying to understand this phenomenon and the need to prevent a reoccurrence highlighted to me, need to ensure that staff adhere to the recommendation and procedures at all times. In a rural environment I.V procedures need to ensure that safety of the patient and the nurse because complications can be life threatening.

I had the opportunity to attend on the previous day The National Intravenous Nurse Specialist Education Forum. This day is an opportunity for Nurse Educators working with advanced Intravenous Therapy to network ideas collectively, brainstorm and develop strategies to improve intravenous nursing nation wide.

The development of a framework and competencies for Intravenous and related Therapies was discussed with a nationwide certification process currently being looked at. This would ensure that the contents of the education programmes have consistency and that there would be a mechanism for the transfer of certification between organisations. This competency programme is still being developed and still to be implemented.

The conference was time for networking and supporting of each other. It was marvellous to be able to liaise with all other Health Professionals involved in Intravenous Therapy and Medicine Management. The knowledge I have gained is priceless and will certainly be used in my practice.

I thank Waikato District Health Board for the opportunity to be able to attend this conference.