CANTERBURY IV PROJECT GROUP

About Us

The Canterbury IV Project Group was formed in 2009 to facilitate the following aims:

Provide an interface for healthcare providers in the Canterbury region who currently certify Intravenous Therapy as a competency for staff, to work more closely together, sharing resources and ideas
Work together to standardise processes and practices
Work together to abolish IV recertification and replace it with other tools for managing fluid and medication risk such as audit of practice and education of staff.

The group is made up of representatives from all CDHB divisions, Christchurch Private Hospitals and Community services.

To this end, IV Recertification was discontinued on 1 July 2009 for Registered nurses, Enrolled nurses and Agency staff.

Education for staff	will include access to ‘Canterbury IV Link Staff Study Days’, designed for the IV Assessor / Link nurse. This webpage will provide the latest releases, updates and practice changes, remedial maths and additional resources for staff.

Audit data	will be available on this website including Infection Control data and summaries of recent medication errors. Audit tools or Clinical Practice Observations (CPOs) will be available for download on the site, including Blood administration, Medication administration by IV bolus/sidearm, Retrospective chart/documentation audit, subcutaneous fluid administration.

IV Link staff	An IV Link nurse is a person who is interested in fluid and medication safety and promoting Best Practice in Fluid and Medication management in their specialty area. They have the approval of their Manager for this role and attend the ‘Canterbury IV Link Staff SD’ to remain updated on practice. The link role includes providing face to face education to colleagues within the specialty area, conducting clinical practice observations (CPO) – audits, championing all aspects of fluid and medication safety and acting as an IV assessor for Initial Certification.

Initial IV Certification	will remain and will be completed by nurses at entry to the organisation (including NETP nurses). This will now be a “one-off” certification. Other Competencies.

Initial and Recertification for other competencies including cytotoxic, central venous access devices (CVAD), venepuncture, cannulation and epidural will remain at present.