BHB IV nurse wins international award

2 May 2019: Did you know that there is a team of nurses at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with specialist training in needle and catheter insertion? Commonly referred to as the intravenous (IV) nursing team, these nurses are called in when patients with blood vessels that are difficult to access need IV treatment and therapies.

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce that its clinical supervisor of IV nurses, Nicole Jackson, has received an international award for her service at BHB. The Canadian Vascular Access Association (CVAA), which has a Bermuda chapter, awarded Ms Jackson third place in its 2019-CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award. The ceremony took place at the CVAA annual convention in Quebec, Canada from 24-26 April 2019. Ms Jackson’s award included a $500 education grant.

The award recognises healthcare professionals that are committed to safety and quality improvement in this specialty area. All nominees had to show evidence of their leadership, innovation, implementation of sustainable best practices and change management concepts, with respect to vascular access at their healthcare organisations.

Ms Jackson, a registered nurse for 25 years, is a CVAA certified member and a member of  the Infusion Nurses Society and America Vascular Access Association. She was nominated for the award by president of the CVAA Bermuda chapter, nurse Christine Bogle-Mienzer. Ms Bogle-Mienzner wrote: “Nicole is passionate about vascular access and infusion therapy. She educates clinicians on how to gain BHB IV certification and encourages participation in the vascular access courses offered at our institution.”

Ms Jackson said she was humbled to win the award: “To be recognised by my peers not only here in Bermuda but also in Canada, was an honour for me. I have been privileged throughout my nursing career to have been supported by BHB. I don’t believe this would have been possible without that.”

Ms Bogle-Mienzer noted the importance of the work done by the BHB IV team, saying: “Almost every department and procedure requires a blood-draw or insertion of some type of IV cannulation for medical therapy. This requires patience and skill of infusion therapists to adeptly perform these therapies.”

She added that patients who have difficulty with insertions “commend the team in purple for their outstanding skill and care in securing their infusion treatments.”

All BHB’s IV nurses are certified through the CVAA and the Infusion Nurses Society.

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