Greetings all,
I have followed the many postings about AVA's plan to develop a curriculum and offer a certification exam and I'd like to clarify several issues.
One is that I am the current spokesperson for anything that AVA is planning. If you have questions/concerns please direct them to me if you are actually interested in the facts. Second issue is that we are not in "competition" with INS as we are very different organizations. INS is a nursing organization that concerns themselves with "infusion nursing". AVA is a international and multidisciplinary organization that deals with vascular access.
AVA's plans for curriculum development, best practice standards, and a certification exam will be rooted in the notion that we need evidence-based practice, a multidisciplinary certification exam that meets the needs of our members, and a predelicition to develop standards versus guidlelines to help our members. Our certification exam will be web-based which will obviate the need for individuals choosing to take this exam to incur expenses beyond the exam.
While some would like to debate whether or not this is a "good" idea, the decision has been made to move forward and just as it is with INS and ONS and any other certification exam, it is totally voluntary; thus if you do not agree, you do not need to participate.
We will be moving forward aggressively to make this a reality in 2007. Please direct any questions, etc to me.
Thank you
Kathy
Kathleen McHugh RN, BSN
President, AVA
President, AVA
