Vascular Access: Adult

Vascular Access: Adult.

This course provides an opportunity for health professionals who are required to insert peripheral IV cannula (PIC) in a patient in a variety of clinical settings including for example: urgent care, general practice, radiology, and private surgical hospitals. The focus of the course is on cannulation skills. While venipuncture is discussed and demonstrated, it forms a lesser proportion of course time. The techniques taught assume adult patients. There is a paediatric version of this course and maybe delivered on the same day as the adult course should clients require both age groups covered.

Course Format

Participants attend a small group course that focuses on the acquisition of the practical and technical aspects of IV cannulation. Participants will have the opportunity to practice these skills on realistic IV training arms and where possible, we aim to provide the types (brands) of cannula used at the client's workplace. A skills logbook is used to track success and failure of each IV cannula attempt during the immediate post course phase.

Course participants may wish to attempt IV cannulation on fellow participants/work colleagues near completion of the course. This activity is under direct supervision by the course instructor and is voluntary, as well as following our policy requiring written consent from both parties.

Course Topics

This course provides various topics relevant to gaining IV access successfully as well as additional material associated with IV catheter insertion such as fluid therapy, care of an IV cannula over time and reducing PIC infections. Intraosseous cannula insertion is also introduced as a resuscitation tool. 

This course is designed for health professionals and assumes that participants have attained knowledge of the circulatory system, and have a thorough understanding of the indications for inserting a PIC as well understanding common terminology used to describe the components of an IV system.