As the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2013, the Cochrane Collaboration is also commemorating its 20th year of existence. Although these organizations have different aims and objectives, both are committed to providing up-to-date, reliable information based on international evidence that health professionals can use to provide high-quality care for their patients.
Since its inception, INS has published 6 versions of the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice and, as of 2010, the 3rd edition of the textbook Infusion Nursing: An Evidence-Based Approach.
The Cochrane Nursing Care Field (CNCF) was established in 2009 to engage nurses and those involved in nursing care in evidence-based practice largely through the dissemination of systematic reviews. Cochrane systematic reviews determine the effectiveness of different health care treatments and interventions by assessing and reporting on research. Although not all the reviews in the Cochrane Library are relevant to infusion nursing, there are some of critical importance, such as reducing surgical site infection, prevention of central venous catheter infections for oncology patients, and central venous dressing changes.1-3
Best practice can change over time as more studies are undertaken. An example of this is the introduction of flexible intravenous catheter practice: the process of leaving peripheral intravascular catheters after 96 hours and the frequency of assessment of the peripheral catheter site.4 In 2009, the 2 Cs of evidence-based infusion were established: critical examination and collaboration.5
The Cochrane Collaboration and INS will continue to be strong advocates for evidence-based practice to provide quality care to patients both safely and effectively. As a member of the CNCF, I would like to acknowledge the work of both organizations and congratulate them on their anniversaries.
-Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI(R), CAE, FAAN
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