Department Spotlight: Vascular Access at Renown Regional Medical Center
December 20, 2024
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Our bodies hold a special elixir to life that keeps our brains thinking, our lungs thriving and our hearts ticking – blood. The bloodstream is key to making sure nutrients, hormones and oxygen all get to the right place and transport waste out of the body.
However, blood can be sensitive. Entering the bloodstream to help your veins, arteries and vessels function or give medication directly to your vascular system is a delicate process. It takes the careful hands and minds of compassionate healthcare professionals to make it all happen.
At Renown Regional Medical Center, those professionals make up the Vascular Access department. Proud members of the region’s leading vascular care team, our Vascular Access nurses are each hospitalized patient’s bedside bloodstream companions.
Access for Life
The nurses in our Vascular Access team do exactly what you’d expect: provide access to the bloodstream for medications and other medical interventions. These team members are specialists in assessing, placing and managing devices for patients needing IV treatments, blood draws, hemodialysis and more.
The devices they work with, otherwise referred to as vascular access devices (VADs), run the gamut of vascular excellence. These include:
- Peripheral inserted central catheters, also known as “PICC lines”
- Hemodialysis catheters
- Peripheral IV catheters (PIVs)
- Central venous catheters (CVCs)
- Long-term peripheral catheters, also known as “midlines”
In Vascular Access, time is of the essence. Their daily life at work involves working quickly and accurately to ensure patients get the best possible outcomes.
“Our day starts off with prioritizing orders,” said Kimberly Wallace, Vascular Access RN. “It is important to us that patients get meaningful care in a timely manner so that they can proceed with discharges, receive important medications and proceed to exams. We juggle timelines to get patients’ access as quickly as possible.”
“You’ll find us rolling around the hospital with our ultrasound machines and placing PICC lines, midlines and PIVs, as well as helping out with dressing changes and line audits,” added Derek Zastre, Vascular Access RN.
When it comes to complex vascular procedures, providers around Renown feel confident that they can call upon our talented Vascular Access team to handle it with the utmost care.
“We receive orders from providers for central lines, midlines and difficult IVs,” said Kris Gregor, Vascular Access RN. “We prioritize and assess need by evaluating patients' charts and ensuring the correct line is ordered and subsequently placed.”
Even more PICC line experts can be found at Renown South Meadows Medical Center, where the Vascular Access department has five Imaging PICC Line nurses, nuclear medicine nurses and MRI nurses ready to serve with their careful hands as they precisely place these flexible catheters to administer life-saving medications. Stay tuned for their Department Spotlight in 2025!
Naturally, a procedure that involves entering the bloodstream can be quite intimidating for any patient. Luckily for them, empathy comes easily for the Vascular Access care team.
“We walk our patients through the process, explaining the reasons why we are placing the lines and how it is going to feel,” said Kris Gregor. “We try our best to alleviate fears and anxiety by maintaining professionalism and showing empathy. Generally, patients relax while we place [the lines] and report that it was not as scary or as bad as they had thought it would be.”
“We explain the procedure to the patients, discuss pain control that will be given during the procedure and help the patient find a comfortable position,” added Kimberly Wallace. “We ask them about themselves and get to know them. Some patients want to listen to music while the line is being placed, so we facilitate these types of comforts for them. We provide them with opportunities to ask questions.”
Each patient’s hopes and wishes about their care are always top of mind for the Vascular Access team, every step of the way.
“We place a lot of PICCs and midlines to better our patients' outcomes all over the hospital,” said Kris Gregor. “We always have our patients' best interest at heart.”
Up for the Challenge
Being a Vascular Access nurse is not for the faint of heart. A steady hand, a careful approach and precise attention to detail are all musts. The Vascular Access team is not only up for the challenge, but they are also masters of the challenge. It’s a badge of honor for them.
“I am honored to be a part of a crew that takes infection prevention seriously, has no reported central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) from the line placement and takes peer education seriously,” said Derek Zastre. “We inform everyone of the vascular access policy for line placement.”
“I am also very proud of our team and the work we are doing to reduce CLABSIs in the hospital,” added Kimberly Wallace.
One of the many benefits of this team is their diverse array of experience prior to becoming Vascular Access RNs, from the ER and ICUs to the lab.
“I am an ER trauma nurse who has worked in the Cath lab, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and flight nursing. Vascular Access seemed like a great way to specialize in accessing difficult veins and placing lines,” said Kris Gregor.
“I have an extensive history as a phlebotomist before becoming a nurse, and Vascular Access just sounded right up my alley,” added Derek Zastre. “I have loved every minute since joining the team.”
A common theme among this team is the appreciation they have for the opportunity to help both patients and their fellow nurses and providers. They are true advocates for both their patients and coworkers.
“I have worked at Renown for 15 years. I started in the general surgical unit (GSU) and became an ultrasound trained RN after three years,” said Kimberly Wallace. “Vascular access is very important to both patients and care providers. I have always found myself drawn to vascular access and not only helping other nurses on my unit gain meaningful access but also [nurses] on other units. It can be a big source of anxiety for both. I joined this team in 2020 and have loved it ever since.”
No matter the case, our Vascular Access professionals will never falter in their passion for their work. Regardless of how challenging the procedure may be, they are proud to rise to the occasion.
The Renown Promise
Working for a hospital or health system can be one of the most fulfilling career paths someone can take, especially for those who are passionate about helping people. Working for Renown, however, takes fulfilling careers to a whole new level.
But don’t just take our word for it – take it from our Vascular Access department.
“I have worked at Renown my entire nursing career, and I continue to work here because I love my coworkers and the opportunity to make a genuine difference every day I come to work,” said Kimberly Wallace.
Many of these team members were inspired to continue serving at Renown after completing a nurse apprenticeship or new graduate nurse position, especially after receiving such strong support from their coworkers and leaders, both personally and professionally. Landing in Vascular Access was the cherry on top of an overall great experience working for Renown.
“I really enjoyed my nurse apprenticeship in the ICU and my first year working in ICU. I enjoy the culture of learning and the teamwork here at Renown,” said Derek Zastre. “When I had issues in my personal life and needed to change directions in my nursing career, my supervisors, educators and directors were awesome and so gracious in helping me find something that fit my needs. I ultimately landed in Vascular Access with an awesome crew and leadership that provides flexibility and support.”
“I was a new grad here in the ER and have moved away from the region several times, but I always come back,” said Kris Gregor. “I really like the camaraderie and how the doctors are so amiable to work with.”
With strong sense of unity, unique patient care opportunities and engaging challenges that inspire, it’s not a matter of “why” the Vascular Access team wants to work in their department – it's more so a matter of “why not?”
“Vascular Access is the BEST,” closes Derek Zastre.
Supporting Parents
