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PICC Professional Spotlight
 Elizabeth (Betsy) Kauffman-Harmon - CPUI Recipient!
Pioneer woman Elizabeth (Betsy) Kauffman-Harmon RN, BSN, CRNI
was our very first CPUI!
 Betsy Harmon arrived in Alaska in the middle of winter on a 3 month traveling nurse assignment….and never left! That was 21 years ago. She currently lives in a cozy log cabin in Wasilla with her husband and 3 dogs. The cabin is very luxurous with a party deck, a hot tub providing a perfect view of the northern lights (Aurora Borealis) and a six-foot Tulikivi Soapstone Stove complete with its own pizza oven. In Alaska, you have to be self-sufficient! Betsy and her husband love having visitors and have hosted multiple international exchange students who soon became family members. In addition, the Harmons’ enjoy the vast wilderness of Alaska and all it has to offer, including camping, hunting and fishing.
A nurse for 27 years, Betsy is a vascular access specialist, currently working as an educator and PICC team inserter in the Emergency Department at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, AK. Betsy performs PICC insertions for patients in all age groups, from neonates to the geriatric patient. Vascular Access became a special interest in Betsy's nursing career when she experienced, firsthand, an undiluted medication given through a peripheral IV followed by an excruciating burning sensation throughout her entire arm. What advice did the nurse offer? “Don't worry; it stops burning after a while”.
 Betsy is active in the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) and has worked on both the Nominating Committee and the Conference Committee. She is also an active member of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) and has been a CRNI for many years. Her presentation on Ultrasound Assessment was well received at the 2010 INS Conference. Betsy’s PICC experience includes establishing the first Vascular Access team program at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage and later developing the program at Mat-Su. Additionally, she has worked in the Neonatal ICU, Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric ICU while also performing Flight Nursing in various specialty areas. Betsy shares her knowledge and expertise with other nurses throughout the rural areas of Alaska through email, phone communication, visits and educational programs.
According to Betsy, the expanded use of Advanced Ultrasound Assessment is not just about “finding the black dot” and sticking it. This advanced understanding has helped Betsy immensely in the evaluation and placement of PICCs in all patient populations. The Infusion Team and patients at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center continue to benefit from her knowledge and expertise. Vessel assessment with Ultrasound is something all of her PICC team members are performing prior to placement. Using ultrasound for complete assessment now plays a huge role in the decision of where to place a device for patient safety as well as the promotion of vessel health.
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