With the June exam quickly approaching, VACC volunteer Jennifer Riesenberg, MSN, RN, VA-BC™ has some study advice for test takers.
“I would seek out colleagues that have maybe a little bit more experience,” Riesenberg said. “Seeking out new knowledge is very imperative … Really look beyond the black and white nature of vascular access because it’s not.”
Every week she posts a scenario outside her office door at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to challenge the critical thinking skills of her vascular team.
“There is no patient situation which is the same, and we have to really look outside the box and look at all angles,” Riesenberg said. “Sometimes you have two really bad options, and you have to choose the better of the two bad options for the patient.”
She was a natural fit to volunteer for VACC.
“My passion is to teach others about vascular access,” Riesenberg said.
In 2019, she became a test item writer.
“It’s been eye-opening, and I really appreciate the opportunity to pass along my vascular access experience to others,” Riesenberg said.
However, she was surprised to find the process challenged her in new ways.
“It’s not easy to formulate those questions,” Riesenberg said. “There’s a lot of care. Many different folks with different levels of expertise look at those questions time and time again to make sure they are an accurate and fair representation of what should be in that exam.”
She turned to her own background for inspiration.
“A lot of the information I used was my experience and trying to identify opportunities for improvement with my staff and understanding vascular access,” Riesenberg said.
April 20-26 marks National Volunteer Week. VACC is currently looking for volunteers to help develop our new Vein Preservation Certificate program. Click here to learn more. Applications are due by April 30.
“It’s so important to show that you care, that you are passionate about your specialty,” Riesenberg said. “You volunteer for things in order to open yourself up to new opportunities and new knowledge.”
From the Board of Directors to item writers, VACC is made possible through its volunteers.
“People appreciate volunteers, they really do,” Riesenberg said. “If you can you use your experience and your knowledge and your care and passion for this specialty, you can really make a difference for someone else.”
She recommends volunteering for everyone, but especially young vascular access professionals.
“You learn how to work with others,” Riesenberg said. “I know that seems very basic, but sometimes a newer VA-BC™ is learning the business of communicating, of learning how to spread their wings in a profession.”
Volunteering with VACC has allowed her to network with fellow VA-BC™s.
“They were extremely knowledgeable, extremely helpful, extremely willing to give their time and experience into ensuring there is a fair representation of questions and answers,” Riesenberg said. “It’s just really opened up a lot of avenues to not only meet people but connect with them and learn from them.”
VA-BC™ certified long-term Froedtert VAT RN Jennifer Bartowitz has worked with Riesenberg for seven years.
“Contributing to the development and review of VA-BC™ exam questions is an invaluable part of advancing the field of vascular access,” Bartowitz said. “I am so appreciative to know that vascular access experts like Jennifer … are willing to give their time and expertise to support this process.”
Riesenberg got her VA-BC™ back in 2016.
“Patients really look at those folks who are credentialed as an expert in their field,” Riesenberg said. “As a leader, I need to be able to demonstrate and mentor my staff and show that certification is very important, which it is … I wanted to advance my knowledge to a level that I could teach others.”
Around the hospital, she proudly wears her VA-BC™ badge card and hands out pins.
“It’s really important, not only as a Magnet organization, but a level one trauma center, that we are credentialed,” Riesenberg said. “We do have the experience.”
She started working in vascular access about 20 years ago.
“It all happened from a stroke of luck,” Riesenberg said. “I burnt out of ICU nursing. I had no idea what to do.”
She went on a search for a new organization.
“Way back then, you looked in the paper,” Riesenberg said.
She came across an ad for an infusion nurse.
“A lot of times that would be a deal breaker for patients,” Riesenberg said. “Maybe they’re a hard stick and worried about being poked multiple times. So, it is very helpful to have that service.”
She got hired at Froedtert.
“I just loved it,” Reisenberg said. “I loved being that person who could put the IV in and really make a difference. It wasn’t all bedside nursing, but you could show you really cared, and you really were empathetic.”
Back then, they only had an IV team of three practitioners, Monday – Friday business hours.
“I’ve worked hard to switch it over to a vascular access team,” Riesenberg said.
It has expanded into a team of over 40 RNs with around-the-clock care 24/7.
“I really am proud of the staff here because they really know their stuff, they are independent critical thinkers,” Riesenberg said. “It’s been a great ride to see the evolution of the team over the last 20 years.”
Last year alone, the team placed over 21,000 peripheral IVs; 22,000 ultrasound peripheral IVs; 12,000 IVs in the outpatient setting; and 1,300 PICCs.
“No day is the same.” Riesenberg said. “The best way to describe it is that we’ve evolved along with our patients. As their acuity has gone up, we have increased our knowledge, we have increased our scope of what we have done.”
Carolyn Maidl-Putz, MSN, RN, NE-BC is a Nurse Manager of the Froedtert Hospital Vascular Access Team.
“[Riesenberg’s] dedication, professionalism, and deep understanding of vascular access make her an excellent candidate to serve as a volunteer for the VACC, where she can contribute meaningfully to the advancement of certification standards and support the professional growth of others in the field,” Maidl-Putz said.
Not only has she Riesenberg seen the business change, she’s seen patients change.
“Not only patients are sicker, but they might wait a little bit longer to come in,” Riesenberg said. “Patients come in with horrible vessels.”
Thankfully, the machinery has evolved as well.
“Now, ultrasound is used all the time for vascular visualization, which is a wonderful new technology,” Riesenberg said. “It’s been a real godsend to increase our ability to get it in right the first time.”
She knows this kind of opportunity is a privilege.
“A lot of people throughout the nation face situations where their team is maybe going to be dissolved because they’re an expendable team,” Riesenberg said. “We are very fortunate that our executives recognize the impact of having a vascular access team.”
She encourages anyone interested in becoming a VA-BC™ and/or volunteering with the VACC should reach out to her at jennifer.riesenberg@froedtert.com.
“I just love what I do,” Riesenberg said. “It’s fantastic. I’ll probably retire as a vascular access nurse.”
