Page 15 - IQ February 2018

netWorK neWs
MY journeY to caliVAn
In 2011 one of the largest oncology hospitals in Southern California o o o o o ered me with an opportunity to to join join its PICC team I I was ini ally hesitant to to join join because I didn’t have any experience as an an oncology nurse instead honing my skills in in in the emergency room However I am always fascinated and curious who places PICC lines so when presented with the chance I immediately went for it Since day one I fell in in love with vascular access and realize that I have so much to study about this industry During training I learned about di erent devices di erent teams and AVA I joined AVA and and a a a a a local network in in my rst year and and learned a a a a a lot from it On my third year as a a a a a PICC nurse our local network unfortunately was no longer ac ve A er thinking and realizing how valuable a a a a a network is is and how it it is is truly needed in my community I established a a a a vision to start a a a a new one I started training myself on
di erent techniques and learned from di erent mentors One day I realized I was signi cantly improved in in using ultrasound guidance and my knowledge in vascular access increased I became more aware of the industry and worked to establish more connec ons While working for a a a a medical device company as an educator I’ve met a a a a ton of people who share the same passion for vascular access The idea of crea ng a a a a a local AVA network in Southern California again resurfaced in in in my brain I wrote a a le er to to AVA’s Director of A A A liates Cindy Anderton and she graciously helped me through the process of crea ng a a a local network I I I knew that I I I couldn’t do it alone so I I I reached out to di erent clinicians and members of industry for help Everyone generously donated their me and e e e e e e e ort to make everything possible and the result was an an an overwhelming acceptance from the clinicians in in in SoCal Finally the the day came for for the the inaugural mee ng for for CaliVAN (California Vascular Access Network) on
January 23 2018 Timothy R Spencer DipAppSci BHSc ICCert RN APN VA-BCTM presented his winning poster from the 2017 AVA Scien c c Mee ng in in Phoenix Arizona It was a a a huge success in in our e e e e orts on
on
bringing educa on
on
and best prac ce to all the clinicians in in SoCal AVA was very very kind to help us out in in in everything we needed to ensure that our network is a a success It was a a a a a dream come true for me me It started with a a a a a vision and a a a a desire to create something great This shows that if you you put your mind into something anything is possible We hope to to con nue our our successful journey to to give the best educa on
about vascular access With AVA guiding us we will be more successful in in our goal to Protect the the the Pa ent | | Educate the the the Clinician | | Save the the the Line Patrick Evangelista RN BSN VA-BCTM “With AVA guiding us we will be more successful in in our goal to Protect the the the Pa Pa ent | | Educate the the the Clinician | | Save the the the Line ” - Patrick Evangelista | | FeBruary 2018 | 15