IVs aren’t “just” IVs

Finding your niche in healthcare sometimes takes being in the right place at the right time. Dawn Turner, RN, knew vascular access was the specialty for her the first time she observed a PICC placement.

She says, “As a floor nurse, I worked hard to improve my IV skills. I purchased specialty books regarding IVs and infusions. Yes, I am that much of a nerd, but I wanted to make sure I was doing the best I could for the patient.”

And when she was selected to join the Vascular Access Team (VAT) at Bloomington, she was thrilled.

“There are so many nuances, challenges and details with vascular access that most people don’t think about or realize,” says Turner. “Truly, IVs are not ‘just IVs.’ Vascular access is vital to everything we do, from labs to scans to literally saving lives.”

Expert care and consideration of appropriate vascular access needs are essential for patients’ immediate outcomes and can affect them in the long term.

“It really is that big of a deal.”

That’s why Turner works hard to be a reliable source of vascular access support, including earning her Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI), becoming Vascular Access-Board Certified (VA-BCTM) and knowing when to ask for help from others.

Vascular access is an ever-growing field where treatment choices aren’t always clear-cut, which is why her list of experts from around the world has been an excellent resource for discussing scenarios and brainstorming those more intricate cases.

“I have used their knowledge and expertise to grow my practice and to care for some patients with complicated access options and complex issues.”

The many individuals directly caring for the patient are also essential in her work.

“Every member of that care team is important,” says Turner. “Collaborating and listening to questions, concerns, and potential issues from everyone on that team—especially the patient—is one of the most important things we can do for our patients.”

Turner’s efforts to excel in this field are a boon to patients, and they earned her the 2024 Association for Vascular Access (AVA) Impact Award.

“I would not be where I am now if it hadn’t been for the vascular access rockstars that came before me. They helped me start walking on this path, they trained me, they guided me, and they encouraged me to continue doing the best I could for each patient. And as a member of the healthcare team taking care of each patient, that is always still my goal.”

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