The need for shared decision-making in the selection of vascular access devices: an assessment of patients and clinicians

Cynthia Chernecky, RN, PhD, AOCN is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, Department of Adult Health, at the Medical College of Georgia. She has two programs of research focused on lung cancer and venous access devices, is responsible for the acute and critical care graduate master's nursing track, and is an ex-officio of the critical care special interest group of the Oncology Nursing Society.

Denise Macklin, RN, BSN, CRNI (PI), is President and founder of Professional Learning Systems (PIS) Inc. in Marietta, Georgia. She is certified in IV Therapy and Adult/Staff education and her work includes production of training videos for vascular access and interactive programs for medical manufacturers and the CDC. She is founder and editor of www.ceuzone.com, an online nursing continuing education Internet site.

Katherine Nugent, RN, PhD, is Professor of Parent-Child Nursing and the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the School of Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia. Her research expertise is in qualitative focus groups, and she has published extensively in the area of education.

Jennifer I. Waller, PhD is Assistant Professor, Office of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Medical College of Geogia, Augusta, Georgia.