SAFE AND RELIABLE VASCULAR ACCESS

SAFE AND RELIABLE VASCULAR ACCESS. PROVE IT!

M.L. Hawes, DNP, RN, CRNI, VA-BCTM, Chair | Director-at-Large AVA Foundation

The vision of the AVA Foundation is a world with safe and reliable vascular access. These are nice words to put on a plaque and stick on a wall, or we could consider it the mountain top and continue to take steps to reach the summit. The AVA Foundation is committed to ascending the mountain by promoting and facilitating multidisciplinary research.

HOW CAN THE FOUNDATION PROMOTE RESEARCH?

The first step we will be taking is to survey the membership to find out what research topics in vascular access interest you. Projects may include anything from fundamental quality improvement to randomized control trials. These ideas can be for topics you are interested in pursuing at your facility or just suggestions you have because you perceive a gap in evidence to support a practice.

RESEARCH IS NOT AN ACTIVITY THAT ONLY HAPPENS AT LARGE TEACHING HOSPITALS.

It is the systematic investigation of an issue to establish facts to reach new conclusions or reinforce the current practice. Research can seem daunting even if you are passionately committed to finding the answer. The AVA Foundation is dedicated to helping new and seasoned clinician-researchers to launch investigations, complete the process and publish the evidence.

Mentorship of clinicians to navigate the research path will be a part of the foundation’s support to increase evidence-based answers to current patient safety issues. Pairing members’ research plans with financial support through small grants administered by the foundation will further remove barriers to completing the process. Finally, the effort would be futile if the research outcomes were not shared. The AVA Foundation will help the research team move towards poster submission, podium presentation, and publication of their new evidence as appropriate.

The AVA Foundation believes our members are capable of improving vascular access and patient safety through research. Therefore, the foundation will be sending out a survey to understand the perceived research needs of the AVA members. Once the survey is assessed, the Foundation will follow with information on mentorship and grant opportunities.

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE CAN INCREASE EVIDENCE TO PROVIDE THE WORLD WITH SAFE AND RELIABLE VASCULAR ACCESS, WE ONLY ASK THAT YOU PROVE IT.

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