Standardized Venous Access Assessment and Safe Chemotherapy Administration to Reduce Adverse Venous Events

Staff of the ambulatory infusion clinic at a Magnet-designated academic medical center observed the rates of adverse venous events, including infiltration and extravasation. An evidence-based quality improvement project was developed to standardize venous access assessment using the Modified Adult Difficult IV Access Scale in conjunction with competency validation for safe administration of vesicant chemotherapy agents according to practice standards. Postimplementation data revealed a 79% reduction in adverse venous events.