Lately, a question has been on my mind: How do we make vascular access more accessible? The short answer is that there is no short answer. For the long answer (which is mostly just more questions) kindly continue reading.
Although veins run throughout our entire body, they all lead back to the same place: the heart. Isn’t the blood in our feet just as important as the blood in our hands? As healthcare professionals, we are all interconnected. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we share a common goal: ensuring patient safety. It is the great equalizer. That’s why we must do our part in supporting each other on our VA-BC™ journey.
We start our careers with a wide range of medical knowledge, but as time goes on, we focus on our specialties, like finding that elusive vein. Hospitals are like any workplace – we naturally form cliques. But if we all share the same goal, how can we make our vascular access team more welcoming?
Unfortunately, there will always be those who don’t fully appreciate what we do. That’s just part of life. However, most people simply aren’t aware of the importance of our unique specialty. Let’s not turn the uninformed into adversaries.
VACC has been building connections in the medical community by exhibiting at conferences across the country. Last week, we were at AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition in New Orleans. 2025 promises more stops, the AVA Annual Scientific Meeting in Kissimmee, Florida; ANCC’s Magnet & Pathway Conference in Atlanta, Georgia; and the AARC International Congress in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the meantime, what can we do on an individual level to build more connections outside our inner circle? To become a VA-BC™, we must meet a lot of criteria, like post-secondary education and professional experience. However, that doesn’t mean we need to be exclusionary. How do we hold high standards without being elitist?
Some up-and-comers may see the eligibility requirements on the VACC website and feel discouraged. But if someone isn’t there yet, we shouldn’t turn them away entirely. We should meet any promising (albeit underqualified) talent in the middle and get them on the right track to becoming a superstar VA-BC™.
We all know the long and challenging road to becoming a VA-BC™. We remember the late nights studying and the hard-earned real-life experience. You worked diligently, and you should be proud.
But if I had to guess, there were probably people who helped you along the way. Mentors have changed my life, and I’m sure they’ve changed yours too. None of us got here on our own. We all stand on the shoulders of giants.
I am challenging myself to have more conversations about the importance of vascular access—and why board certification matters. Whether I’m talking with fellow nurses at work or connecting with other healthcare professionals, I want to highlight how our specialty plays a critical role in patient care.
VA-BC™ certification not only validates our expertise, but also helps raise the standard across disciplines. By sharing knowledge and collaborating across specialties, we can build greater awareness, appreciation, and support for the work we do.
Let’s keep the dialogue going—because when we advocate for vascular access together, we strengthen the future of our profession.
Let’s make a difference together. Reach out to someone who might benefit from your guidance and support them on their journey to becoming VA-BC™ certified. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive community.
Sincerely,
Wendy Clark, MSN, RN, VA-BC™
VACC President
info@vacert.org
(414) 231-8222
