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Past Events: 

February 21, 2024 - Education event
November 2023 - Student Lead Vaccination Clinic
Late October 2023 - Medication Administration Session with Sol-Millennium
October 5, 2023 - Pediatric Vascular Access Information Session 
September 27, 2023 - CLABSI Solutions with Covalon

May 15, 2023
On May 15th, the VASC-McGill Chapter hosted a venipuncture session for students to practice their IV insertion, IV management and blood procurement skills. Thank you to the students and faculty who came to the Venipuncture Practice Session! We can’t wait to see what this year brings for vascular access events and opportunities for our students at the Ingram School of Nursing.If you are looking to collaborate with a student platform to showcase your product, skill or up-and-coming technology in vascular access, email vascexecutives@gmail.com !

February 2, 2023
On February 2nd, the Vascular Access Student Club (VASC) was proud to host their first Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous (PIV) insertion event led by Nipro Canada. With over 30 students in attendance throughout the morning and afternoon sessions from the Nurse Practitioner (NP), PhD, MSc(A), BNI, and U3 BScN programs, the event allowed for students to learn from Vascular Access and Infusion Nursing specialists. Following the event, all participants reported an increase in understanding of the fundamentals of ultrasound-guided PIV placement in addition to agreement for the standardized integration of ultrasound-guided PIV placements in patients with difficult venous access.

          

September 29, 2022
Better Your Blood Draw: On September 29th, the Vascular Access Student Club (VASC) of McGill University held their first “Better Your Blood Draw” event. With the aim of enhancing students’ confidence and competence in blood draw skills, the event drew in a crowd of first-year BNI students, direct-entry masters students, and Nurse Practitioner candidates. Of the 20 students who registered for the event, all reported a lack of confidence in successfully completing a blood draw following best practice. Those who attended were paired with a peer to practice blood draw techniques on wet arms, generously donated by BD Canada, while receiving individualized help from VASC executives and ISoN faculty. Following the event, attendees were sent a post-event survey, and 100% of students reported that following the event, they “strongly agree” that they are more confident in their ability to perform a blood draw successfully, following best practice. VASC looks forward to hosting more drop in blood draw help for McGill ISON students as the academic year progresses! 

    

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June 7, 2022

The McGill Vascular Access Student Club (VASC) held a workshop for peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion in partnership with BD Canada. Student participants worked in small groups with educators to improve their confidence and competence in PIVC insertion.

Prior to the event, students filled out a survey answering the following question: “Please rate your response to the following question: I feel confident that I can successfully insert a PIV on the first attempt”. Responses ranged from “strongly disagree” to “neutral”; no students agreed to the statement.

Following the approximately 1 hour of hands-on practice with wet arms at the June 7th workshop, students were sent a follow-up survey asking: After completion of the June 7th PIV event, please rate your response to the following question: "I feel confident that I can successfully insert a PIV on the first attempt”. All students responded, “[I] agree”. 

Thanks to the generous donation of supplies from BD, the VASC will offer drop-in PIV insertion workshops beginning in the Fall of 2022.

          

February 26, 2021

On February 26, 2021, the Vascular Access Student Club and BD Canada held their first collaborative online webinar for the staff and students at the Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN).This webinar entitled “ Vascular Access Assessment and Device Selection” was presented by Joseé Roy, a BD clinical specialist, and Luc Bastien, the territory manager of BD.

Prior to joining BD Canada, Josée was an oncology nurse at the Montreal General Hospital followed by charge nurse and then nurse manager for outpatient infusion at Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Florida. She also participated in the setup of the hospital Infusion Department, bedside nurse insertion PICC program, department preceptorship program as well as the Device Selection Program which is an initiative to preserve vasculature. As for Luc, he worked in sales as representative and manager before joining the medical industry first at Baxter Corporation for 15 years.

This one-hour webinar consisted of current best practice recommendations from the Canadian Vascular Access and Infusion Therapy (CVAA) Guidelines. It highlighted the important role nurses have when assessing vascular access to not only preserve vasculature but also maintain patient safety and comfort. This was followed by an informative presentation on various devices such as picc lines, midlines and port-a-cath as well as the role of advocacy nurses have when it comes to device selection. To conclude the presentation, there was an interactive Q&A period where ISoN had the opportunity to share their personal experiences and receive expert advice.

VASC is overjoyed to have had the opportunity to collaborate with BD Canada as they share our club’s vision and objective to create a safe space for nursing students to learn about vascular access and infusion nursing (VAIN), while networking with experts.

January 24, 2020

On January 25, 2020, The Vascular Access Student Club led four successful workshops, hosting 100 students from across Canada, at the Canadian Nursing Students' Association annual conference on Montreal, Quebec.  The workshops were entitled "Making Vascular Access a Success: PIV Innovations" and " Harm Reduction and Naloxone Training." The PIV workshops were facilitated by VASC VP Internal and External, Madi Connolly and Catherine Farmer. Each PIV workshop consisted of an introduction to intraosseous vascular infusion and insertion techniques, PIV insertion practice supported by BBraun of Canada, and each student was given the opportunity to operate the Ingram School of Nursing (ISON) lab's vein light. At the Harm Reduction and Naloxone training workshops, VASC President, Miranda Harrington, co-facilitated with Leigh Hoffman to provide attendees with knowledge of harm reduction strategies in the context of the opioid crisis. Participants were also trained in the administration of naloxone as an opioid overdose intervention, and given the opportunity to practice intramuscular injection techniques. These workshops were put together with the generous support of the McGill ISON faculty members, including Caroline Marchionni, Mélanie Gauthier, Amélie Samson, Khaleda Begum, and Line Robitaille.

      

  

January 9, 2020 - McGill ISON Vascular Access Student Club organized a Pediatric and Neonatal Vascular Access event

The McGill ISON Vascular Access Student Club organized a Pediatric and Neonatal Vascular Access event on January 9, 2020. McGill University Health Centre Pediatric Nursing Professional Development Educator, Geraldine Schaack, presented vascular access and infusion equipment and discussed pediatric considerations. This event was open to all ISON students. On January 24, 2020, the VASC (Vascular Access Student Club), led four successful workshops at the Canadian Nursing Students` Association annual conference in Montreal.

The workshops were entitled "Making Vascular Access a Success: PIV Innovations" and "Harm Reduction and Naloxone Training". The PIV workshop was facilitated by Madi Connolly and Catherine Farmer, U3 BScN students. It consisted of an introduction to intraosseous vascular infusion and insertion techniques. It was followed by PIV insertion practice, supported by BBraun of Canada. Fifty students, from across Canada, were also able to try the ISON lab's vein light.

This workshop was supported by Caroline Marchionni and Melanie Gauthier and lab faculty and staff Amélie Samson, Khaleda Begum and Line Robitaille. At the Harm Reduction and Naloxone Training workshop, VASC President Miranda Harrington co-facilitated with Leigh Hoffman to provide attendees with basic knowledge of harm reduction strategies in the current opioid crisis. Fifty participants were also trained in the administration of naloxone as an opioid overdose intervention and given the opportunity to practice intramuscular injection techniques
 

November 14, 2019 - Education event