Two medical professionals stand in separate MRI suites. On the left, a woman with long brown hair smiles with her arms crossed in front of a Siemens Healthineers scanner. On the right, a man with glasses and a short beard smiles slightly while wearing a hospital badge and vest in a brightly lit pediatric imaging room
Patient Care January 29, 2025 2 mins read

Celebrating Excellence: IV Nurse Day

In honor of National IV Nurse Day on January 25, we spotlight the dedication and skill of our nurses who ensure patients receive the highest quality IV care. Meet five exceptional nurses who go above and beyond to provide comfort and support to patients during this critical procedure.
Arleen Bandarrae

In honor of National IV Nurse Day on January 25, we spotlight the dedication and skill of our nurses who ensure patients receive the highest quality IV care. Meet five exceptional nurses who go above and beyond to provide comfort and support to patients during this critical procedure.

A woman stands in front of a Siemens Healthineers SOMATOM Force CT scanner with her arms crossed, smiling. She’s wearing clinical work pants, sneakers, and a white vest over a black long-sleeve shirt. Additional medical equipment is visible beside the scanner in a clean imaging room.
Heather Benjamin, RN, CRN

“My favorite thing about IV insertion is the relief I see on a patient's face when the IV is in and it was an easy, comfortable experience,” says Heather Benjamin, RN, CRN, who works with patients at the UC Imaging Center at UCSF’s Parnassus Heights campus. Understanding that past experiences can cause anxiety, she prioritizes patient comfort by actively listening to their concerns and striving to make the procedure as positive and stress-free as possible.

“It’s important to use not just what you see but what you feel too!” says clinical nurse Katie Borst. With more than 11 years of emergency department experience, she expertly administers IVs to patients of all ages, from infants to centenarians, handling every case with confidence and empathy.

“The most important skill to have as a vascular nurse is to listen to your patients,” says Corina Carter, RN, a vascular access nurse for geriatric patients for three years, and a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) nurse for ten years. “I help my patients stay calm and relaxed by talking with them and letting them know when they relax, the body relaxes, and vascular access is easier.”

A smiling man with glasses and a goatee stands in a brightly lit pediatric hospital imaging room. He’s wearing a dark vest with the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals logo and a colorful badge lanyard. Medical equipment and playful wall designs are visible in the background.
Sean Wesley, RN

For Sean Wesley, RN, a PICC nurse and IV placement expert, the most rewarding aspect of his job is positively impacting patient care. “Patience, practice, and consistency are key,” he says.

Cheryl Blanco, a registered nurse in the MRI division at the UCSF Precision Cancer Medicine Building, has improved workflows for our interventional radiology nursing staff and elevated patient care. “My journey in the IV Nurse role began five years ago in response to needs in our MRI and CT areas,” she says. “In this role, I've been approached to train other MRI and mammography staff in PIV insertion and patient care.”

The expertise and compassion of our IV nurse make a world of difference for patients and teams alike. Happy National IV Nurse Day!