Advancing Vascular Nursing at BWH and Across New England
BWH vascular nurses host an educational table in the Miller Atrium in celebration of Vascular Nurses Week. From left: Fernanda Trevisone, BSN, RN-BC; Anabelen Contreras, BSN, RN, CVRN-BC; Kathleen Mullane, ADN, RN; Denise-Marie Fay, BSN, RN; Leah Luzzo, BSN, RN; and Karen Hanrahan, BSN, RN.
To further the specialty of vascular nursing and increase disease awareness, members of the Shapiro 8 vascular nursing practice committee recently established the New England Boston Society for Vascular Nursing (NEBSVN), a chapter of the national Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN).
“We look forward to advancing our knowledge and collaboration with our New England vascular nursing and surgical colleagues with a goal of providing superior vascular care and awareness,” said Karen Hanrahan, BSN, RN, clinical nurse on Shapiro 8 and NEBSVN President.
Added Shapiro 8 Nurse Director Alice O’Brien, MS, RN: “Establishing the NEBSVN chapter required many long hours and a strong commitment to our vascular practice. To say that I am impressed and proud would be an understatement.”
Over the last several years, the Shapiro 8 vascular nursing practice committee has led numerous efforts to advance the care of this patient population and serve as a voice for vascular nurses, locally, regionally and nationally.
Since 2014, the practice committee has obtained official proclamations from the Governor of
Massachusetts and the Mayor of Boston for Vascular Nurses Week. This celebration aims to recognize the contributions of vascular nurses in advancing care for the more than 9 million Americans living with vascular disease – any condition which affects the arteries and veins of the circulatory system.
During BWH’s Vascular Nurses Week 2017 (Sept. 10-16) celebration, the practice committee held an educational event for patients, families and staff on the Shapiro Mezzanine. Literature, vascular screenings and demonstrations of stents and other devices were available.
At this year’s National Society for Vascular Nursing convention, held in Nashville, TN, members of the Shapiro 8 vascular nursing practice committee won first place for best research poster for their presentation of “Nursing Role in Patient Progression Initiative.”