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Poster 20 | Presenting author: Eva Gauci

Over the past 18 months, CNSA, in collaboration with the University of Wollongong, has delivered the Principles and Practices of Difficult Intravenous Access (DIVA) micro credential courses across the country. With a deliberate focus on improving equity of access to educational opportunities for cancer nurses, CNSA has focused on reaching nurses in regional and remote areas who often face barriers to attending hands-on professional development.

This month on Nursing Excellence in Cancer Care, we explore the importance of vessel health and preservation.

Did you know up to 59% of patients with cancer have difficult intravenous access (DIVA)? This means it is more challenging to successfully insert a peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC) without employing advanced techniques such as using ultrasound. Patients can endure multiple attempts, sometimes up to 8-10 times to successfully insert a PIVC. This further contributes to poor vein health and patient experience.