Season 2 Episode 9: June 30, 2026 | Implanted Vascular Access Devices: When and Who Should Access

This episode features Dr Lois Rajcan, an Infusion Therapy and Vascular Access Standards of Practice 10th edition committee member, discussing best practices, standards, and organizational strategies for safe port access. Learn about the importance of competency, evidence-based practices, and patient-centered care in vascular access management.

Lois Rajcan, PhD, RN

Lois Rajcan, PhD, RN

Lois Rajcan, PhD, RN, has more than 38 years of experience as a registered nurse across diverse clinical settings, including 10 years specializing in vascular access as a clinical manager. Her commitment to safe, patient-centered vascular access practice has shaped both her scholarly work and her contributions to nursing education. She has conducted research examining patients’ trust in nurses and their perceptions of nursing care quality when nurses access implanted vascular access ports. Active in nursing education since 2011, she also developed an undergraduate vascular access and infusion therapy course designed to strengthen foundational competence and promote evidence-based practice among emerging nurses.

Host: Derek Fox, MSN, RN, VA-BC, CRNI®, NEA-BC

Guest: Dr Lois Rajcan, PhD, RN

This episode features Dr Lois Rajcan, an Infusion Therapy and Vascular Access Standards of Practice 10th edition committee member, discussing best practices, standards, and organizational strategies for safe port access. Learn about the importance of competency, evidence-based practices, and patient-centered care in vascular access management.

References

1. Taxbro K, Hammarskjöld F, Thelin B, et al. Clinical impact of peripherally inserted central catheters vs implanted port catheters in patients with cancer: an open-label, randomised, two-centre trial. Article. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2019;122(6):734-741. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2019.01.038

2. Swaminathan L, Flanders S, Horowitz J, Zhang Q, O'Malley M, Chopra V. Safety and Outcomes of Midline Catheters vs Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters for Patients With Short-term Indications: A Multicenter Study. JAMA Intern Med. Jan 1 2022;182(1):50-58. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.6844

3. McGinnis P, Camp S, Cheema M, et al. Midline and central line catheters usage and blood stream infection: Trends and insights from 2016 to 2024. Am J Emerg Med. Jun 2026;104:106-117. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2026.03.004

4. Marsh N, Larsen EN, Takashima M, et al. Peripheral intravenous catheter failure: A secondary analysis of risks from 11,830 catheters. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2021;124:N.PAG-N.PAG. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104095

5.  Fernandez-Fernandez I, Parra-García G, Blanco-Mavillard I. Vascular access specialist teams versus standard practice for catheter insertion and prevention of failure: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2024;14(7):e082631. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082631

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