In April 2024, Marnie O鈥橞rien and Emma Locket of the Ingram School of Nursing鈥檚 Vascular Access Student Club (VASC) presented at the Canadian Vascular Access Association鈥檚 conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, winning the People鈥檚 Choice Award and second place for their research poster. Little did they know that they were about to leave Winnipeg with the promise of yet another prize 鈥� a hand-held IP-Echo machine offered by Raphael 顿耻产茅, President of medical supply company Nipro Canada, who was impressed by the students鈥� enthusiasm and commitment to vascular access education. The machine uses ultrasound to visualize peripheral veins to improve first-stick success when inserting an IV, reducing patient anxiety and pain.
Founded in 2019, VASC partners with industry and clinical partners to offer training sessions outside of the regular curriculum in an atmosphere that allows students to gain confidence in performing complex skills and assessments.
At a recent gathering celebrating Nipro Canada鈥檚 ongoing generosity followed by a tour of our lab facilities, Assistant Professor Caroline Marchionni, who serves as Faculty Advisor for VASC, called the hand-held echo machine a game-changer. 鈥淯ltrasound guided peripheral venous insertion will change the face of vascular access. This gift puts our School at the forefront of teaching this essential skill.鈥� She added that during the summer, the company also donated 100 kilograms of expired supplies useful for teaching purposes such as chlorhexidine swabs that would otherwise have wound up in the landfill.
VASC President Marnie O鈥橞rien expressed gratitude to the company for its support, singling out Daphne Broadhurst, an experienced nurse who is considered the Canadian 鈥済uru鈥� of vascular access, for her teaching prowess. A third-year BScN student, Marnie reported that attendance at VASC events continues to increase, reflecting the calibre of the training provided.
Noting that leadership and innovation are driving forces at the ISoN, Director and Associate Dean Lynne McVey thanked Mr. Dub茅 and his team for partnering with the School in delivering a first-class education. 鈥淚n this post-pandemic era, we believe that through executive education that builds on the unique experiences and perspectives of students, nurses, and nurse executives, we can help solve some of the most critical challenges facing our health care system,鈥� she said.
Mr. Dub茅听commented that it was an honour for Nipro Canada to be able to partner with 麻豆AV鈥檚 Ingram School of Nursing. 鈥�It is truly inspiring to see the cutting-edge innovative teaching practices being conducted within your facility.鈥�
