A Collaborative Approach to Improving Patient Care Associated with Vascular Access Devices

Denise Macklin, RN, BSN, CRNI is (PI) President Professional Learning Systems, Inc. Atlanta, GA, and a winner of the NAVAN/Suzanne LaVere Herbst Award for Excellence in Vascular Access Practice. She is editor and author of continuing education site www.ceuzone.com. Author of two books one of which has received top national recognition. Author of numerous articles on topics related to vascular access, patient education and staff development.

Cynthia Chernecky, RN, PhD, CNS, AOCN®(Co-I) is a Professor in the School of Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia and the 2002–2003 Oncology Nursing Society Mary Nowotny Excellence in Cancer Nursing Education Award recipient. Her two programs of research include lung cancer symptomotology and venous access devices. She is the editor and author of fourteen nursing textbooks including five that have received top national recognition.

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

Jennifer L. Waller, PhD, is Associate Professor, Office of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia.