VOLUME 39 | NUMBER 1S | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 Copyright © 2016 Infusion Nurses Society S5 Journal of Infusion Nursing Infusion Nursing The Art and Science of Infusion Nursing The Art and Science of Infusion Nursing P R E F A C E Rcanceall ecognized as the premier organization for the specialty practice of infu- sion nursing, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) understands the signifi - the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice ( the Standards) holds in relation to the delivery of safe patient care. Developing and dissemi- nating Standards is one of the pillars of INS’ mission. Infusion therapy is administered to patient populations in all practice settings, all the more reason to ensure the Standards are applied to one’s clinical practice. It provides a framework to guide safe practice to ensure the best patient outcomes. There is an expectation that all clinicians are competent in their practice. With more published research, advances in science, and innovation in technology, it’s imperative that the Standards is relevant to the clinician’s practice. Therefore, INS is committed to revising the document every 5 years. This seventh edition cites 350 more references than the sixth edition of the Standards (2011), a testament to the advancing science of infusion therapy. The rankings of the strength of the body of evidence have also shifted in this edition. In 2011, there were 3.8% of Level I rankings, the highest rating. In this revision, that ranking has grown to 5.8%, evi- dence that there is more robust research with consistent findings in the literature to support the practice. In contrast, the percentage of Level V rankings, the lowest rat- ing, was 67% in 2011 and has decreased to 46% in this document. With more published data and research adding to the science of the practice, the distribution of rankings has changed based on the nature and robustness of the research. As we’ve seen over time, more strong evidence has provided clinicians with information and data that can justify existing practice or lead to a change in practice. A major change in this edition of the Standards is its title. Infusion therapy does not “belong” to one group of clinicians, but it is the responsibility of any clinician who is involved in the practice. Recognizing infusion care goes beyond nursing, the title has been changed to the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. This change aligns with the interprofessional approach that is being implemented in health care today. In this edition, new standards have been added, while other sections have been expanded to offer more guidance to clinicians. The format remains unchanged with practice criteria and relevant references listed after each set of standards. INS’ focus has never changed. We still keep in mind that our patients are the reason we do what we do. We want to ensure we’re providing the safe, quality infu- sion care that our patients deserve. As INS continues to “set the standards for infu- sion care,” the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice is an invaluable guide for all clinicians who are responsible for their patients’ infusion care. JIN-D-15-00057.indd S5 JIN-D-15-00057.indd S5 05/01/16 11:30 PM 05/01/16 11:30 PM