Past Events:
June 5, 2025 - education event
Our VASC team hosted and co-animated an IV Insertion Workshop in collaboration with BD (Becton Dickinson) Canada, focused on ANTT (Aseptic Non-Touch Technique), a key technique for maintaining sterility and patient safety during vascular access procedures. The session included an educational presentation, hands-on guided practice, and interactive skill-building using BD's Nexiva™ and Insyte Autoguard™ devices. We were fortunate to welcome a strong turnout of 20 RNs and LPNs, along with several faculty members of ISoN in attendance which included the Associate Dean and Director of the Ingram School of Nursing. Overall, the feedback was very positive!
April 2, 2025 - education event
Our VASC team had the pleasure of receiving Geraldine Shaack, the Montreal Children’s Hospital Vascular Access Nurse, who hosted an informative workshop on pediatric vascular access practices for nursing students at the Ingram School of Nursing. Our nursing students had the opportunity to learn about updated and evidence-based practices regarding pediatric vascular access, allowing them to expand their knowledge and improve their confidence in working with this specialized patient population. We are grateful for Geraldine’s commitment and expertise in improving pediatric vascular access education for our nursing students!
March 24, 2025 - education event on CVADs, skin integrity and disinfection, hosted by Solventum Canada
Our VASC team had the pleasure of receiving Solventum Canada who hosted an educational workshop on the best practices for skin protection and disinfection for patients with CVADs. Our nursing students had the opportunity to learn about the latest evidence-based practices concerning essential techniques for maintaining skin integrity and reducing infection risks. We also learnt about the importance of these topics in relation to patient outcomes, as these technologies can have mountainous impacts on patient care. We are grateful for Solventum Canada’s dedication to providing our students with up-to-date vascular access knowledge!
February 11/12, 2025
Our VASC team had the pleasure of hosting Nipro, who delivered two innovative and informative workshops on USG-PIV insertion to our nursing students at the Ingram School of Nursing. Using their IP-Echo Handheld Ultrasound Device, Nipro provided our students with hands-on USG-PIV insertion practice, allowing them to be better prepared for their future clinical practice. We would like to thank Nipro for their generous contributions to our VASC team and for their continued commitment towards enriching vascular access education and knowledge.
January 27, 2025
Our VASC team had the pleasure of providing nursing students at the Ingram School of Nursing with an informative intraosseous vascular access session, hosted by Teleflex. Marie-Andrée Jacques, a clinical instructor from Teleflex Medical Canada delivered this workshop to our nursing students, providing them with an enriching presentation on intraosseous insertion and vascular access procedures. Our VASC team would like to thank Marie-Andrée and Teleflex for delivering a fantastic workshop, allowing our nursing students to benefit from hands-on learning in performing intraosseous insertion techniques. Your commitment towards providing nursing students with evidence-based vascular access knowledge and practices helps give these novice nurses the confidence to thrive in their future practice. Thank you for continued dedication to evidence-based vascular access education and for your generosity towards the Ingram School of Nursing.
Our VASC team is proud to announce the success of our student-led Influenza vaccination clinic! Our VP external and BScN Lab Representative of FacLab Fusion, Vie Kupovics, was the mastermind behind this project which allowed student nurses to hone their immunization skills while promoting peer-led learning. In this clinic, student nurses at ISoN acted as vaccinators, having the opportunity to vaccinate their fellow student peers. We are so grateful for the volunteer vaccinators who participated in this project with great enthusiasm, care, and professionalism. We would also like to thank our faculty advisors, and faculty members at ISoN who volunteered their time to oversee the safety of this student-led initiative. This clinic not only acted as an opportunity for nursing students to gain confidence in practicing the vital skill of vaccination, but also acted as an important initiative for health promotion within the nursing community here at ISoN. Finally, thank you to all our peer-patients who came and got vaccinated, your support is what made this clinic a success!
Our VASC team would like to express our utmost gratitude for Nipro’s generous donations of their IP-ECHO Handheld Ultrasound Imaging System and an ultrasound phantom limb to support our students’ learning of innovative vascular access practices and technologies. Nipro’s commitment to providing educational experiences and opportunities to the students at the Ingram School of Nursing is pivotal in enriching the knowledge of our future practicing nurses.
Additionally, Nipro generously donated their VanishPoint syringes to VASC’s recent student-led vaccination clinic at the Ingram School of Nursing. Nipro’s dedication in supporting our student initiatives has played a central role in not only their success, but to the contribution of knowledge generation and health promotion within our nursing community.
Our VASC team would like to thank Nipro for their incredible generosity in their donations to the VASC chapter at the Ingram School of Nursing and their continued support of our student-led educational initiatives. Thanks to Nipro, VASC looks forward to creating new and exciting learning opportunities for nursing students using innovative vascular access technologies.
On September 26, 2024, the VASC chapter at McGill University hosted a successful and informative open-lab practice session for nursing students at the Ingram School of Nursing. New nursing students had the opportunity to practice and observe skills that will be vital to their future practice with the help of our wonderful student mentors and faculty! Students practiced IV insertions and phlebotomy in the lab, while the mentors also offered helpful tips on subcutaneous catheters and central lines. We had a great turnout and are so pleased that students took the initiative to hone their vascular access skills!
On Friday, March 22, 2024, the Ingram School of Nursing's Vascular Access Student Club (VASC) hosted a USG-PIV workshop. Sponsored by B. Braun Canada, this event allowed students to practice ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous (USG-PIV) insertion through simulated practice sessions. Renowned expert David-Alexandre Morin from CHU de Québec led an excellent workshop attended by over 30 students, similar to training provided in real clinical settings for becoming certified in this essential skill. We look forward to our next event!
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!
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