Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs)

Course Overview

This Ausmed Course provides learners with essential competencies surrounding the care of central venous access devices with the specific purpose of centring positive patient outcomes and championing patient and carer education.

Topics

• Overview of the types of central venous access devices
• Patient and carer involvement
• Practical principles for safe device insertion
• Maintenance and care of a central venous access device
• Best practices for safe device removal

Need

Central venous access devices (CVADs) are highly prevalent within inpatient and community settings across all populations.

In order to achieve optimal patient outcomes, healthcare professionals need to have an in-depth, up-to-date understanding of how different CVADs function and the standards for ensuring patient safety.

Purpose

The purpose of this Ausmed Course is to update and expand existing knowledge regarding types of central venous access devices (CVADs), device maintenance and care, and providing patient and carer education.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand different types of central venous access devices and their indications.
• Provide appropriate education for patients and their carers regarding central venous access devices.
• Review best-practice central venous access device insertion technique.
• Understand how to maintain a central venous access device.
• Review best-practice central venous access device removal technique.

Target Audience

This Ausmed Course is intended for nurses and other healthcare professionals looking to expand their knowledge relating to central venous access devices (CVADs).

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educators

Presented by

Nicole Gavin View profile

Dr Nicole Gavin is an experienced haematology and bone marrow transplant nurse and a nurse research at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Her main research interest is infection in patients diagnosed with cancer. Infection is the leading cause of death for people with cancer despite advances in treatment and supportive care leading to long-term survival. Nicole’s PhD investigates how microorganisms grow in intravenous solutions in central venous access devices.

Peer reviewed by

Gillian Ray-Barruel View profile