Our Mission Is To Promote Excellence In the Field Of IV Therapy
Connecticut Chapter of the INS Objectives:
1. To provide the benefits and protection of the qualified IV nurse to the patient, to
the institution that employs the IV nurse, to members of associated allied health
professions, and to the profession of nursing
2. To encourage a high quality of professional practice through the establishment and maintenance of standards, professional ethics and education
3. To promote clinical research and education within this nursing specialty and in
related nursing areas
4. To disseminate knowledge by providing for interchange of information and
around its members and members of allied specialties and professions who live
and work in the same geographical area
5. To assist in providing specialized IV care in every health care facility.
(Source: the Constitution for Chapters of the Infusion Nurses Society, 2006)
Membership is open to all healthcare professionals from all practice settings who are involved in or interested in the specialty practice of infusion therapy. The membership of the Chapter consists of Active, Associate, and Industry members.
Active Members: registered nurses curently practicing IV therapy
Associate Members: non-RN health care professionals who are in the field of IV therapy
Industrial Members: individuals from industry whose products relate to IV therapy
To apply and pay dues online (1 year: $25.00): click here.
Our Members Make a Difference!
Our chapter members and board have been at the forefront of changes in infusion care in our state. For example from 2004 to 2005 the Long Term Care Committee formed by members contacted and followed up with meetings with the Public Health Service Manager in the Connectict Department of Public Health (DPH). Our committee members worked with the DPH to put together a waiver request program to allow PICC insertion in long term care facilities within Connecticut. Connecticut long term care facilities can now apply to the DPH using this waiver process for patients requiring PICC insertion. A link to the waiver package (sample policies & orders included) is provided on this website on the home page in the files and forms section.
In 2000, Chapter members formed a committee that answered a need for better communication upon patient discharge between our hospital based PICC teams, the home care companies, and subacute/long term care facilities. This committee developed a venous access device tracking tool (the VAD Tracking Form) that standardizes the information needed to be shared between facilities upon patient discharge. It is designed to be used by the PICC insertion clinician to record the type, size, length, arm measurements, and any problems upon insertion of the PICC line. This allows organizations caring for the patient post hospital discharge to have the information needed to give good care. Chapter board members updated the VAD Tracking Form in 2006, and put together a educational poster on the tracking program that was presented at the national INS 2006 annual meeting. The educational poster titled "What Line Is It Anyway" was presented at the meeting by member and 2006 Chapter President Leslie Leon. A copy of the poster and the VAD Tracking form are available on our home page in the Files and Forms section.
One of our chapter members, Sandra Pieger was integrally involved in changes that advanced the practice of nurse performed PICC insertion procedures in our state. In 2000-2001 she met with the Connecticut DPH: Board of Examiners and presented data that resulted in the Board of Examiners unaminous vote that insertion of PICC Line catheters using ultrasound and micro-introducers is within the scope of practice of registered nurses appropriately trained in these procedures. Prior to that vote nurses in Connecticut utilized basic techniques only for PICC insertion.
Member Benefits
CRNI® Exam Assistance
Validate your experience! Take the CRNI® (Certified Registered Nurse Infusion) exam. Our Chapter has one set of CRNI® prep review audio tapes, and one set of cds that are made available on loan to members studying for the CRNI® exam upon request. A small deposit is held until the items are returned.
Click here for more about the CRNI® certification
Members: click here to request to borrow the CDs or review tapes
Access to the Journal of Infusion Nursing is now available to national INS members online! Go to www.ins1.org - and log in to access the Members Exclusive section.
Education
CEUs and Discounts
Members receive discounts on all of our educational programs. Many of our offerings provide contact hours from an ANCC approved provider that can be applied towards CRNI® recertification credits and more.
Mary Jane Monast Scholarship
We award a $500 scholarship, to be used towards a National INS educational event, this is awarded annually at our Fall Seminar. The winner must be a member of both the Connecticut and National INS.
Opportunities
Get Involved
Many opportunities are available to members to serve the Chapter by joining or chairing a committee, being elected to our board, and speaking or exhibiting at a Chapter event. We are a busy chapter that is dedicated to improving our specialty, this can only be done with the support of our members. Our membership is what makes our Chapter great!
Access To a Network Of Peers
Our Chapter newsletter is free and is distributed to members quarterly. Our meetings offer great opportunities for networking.