Can an RN insert IV catheter?

smk1, LPN · Jun 14, 2006

I am wondering if an RN needs to be IV certified in NJ in order to be able to insert an IV catheter or she/he can just put IVs without a certification?
What if one is IV certified in another state?

IV insertion is an RN skill in every state as far as i know (i am a student). We will not need certifications, because it is understood to be a basic skill.

froggg123 · Jun 19, 2006

Both hospitals I have worked at certified RNs for IV's, they both considered you "passed" when you had three successful sticks and one had a written test I had to pass it isnt any long drawn out process usually if you need to take a test it is done during orientation to the hospital

jmgrn65, RN · Jun 19, 2006

It is more like a competency they need to know that you know how to do the skill and safely. However I worked for a doctors office, surgery center and they didn't have me show them that I could do the skill, they knew i worked in the hospital so they took my word for it.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jun 21, 2006

From what I've found, it's not taught in nursing school anymore (because I sure didn't learn it there) but the hospitals will certify their new hires themselves. At the hospital I'm going to be at it's 100 sticks. Typically they put you in the ER a few days. Almost every patient gets an IV there.

mirishrn · Jun 24, 2006

I worked at both Newark Beth Israel and St. Peter's UH in New Brunswick and both place requires all RN's (regardless new or seasoned) to be IV certified prior to starting any IV's or accessing any ports in their facility.

rpv_rn · Jun 24, 2006

Deleted

wubbakat · Jun 24, 2006

IV catheter insertion is still being taught in schools, at least in NC, I currently work with several RN students, and they all have had instruction in school with this skill. In my day, it was a basic RN skill, once you have passed your boards, you were considered to be able to do it. During your orientation as an RN, wherever you got your job, you were to already have the knowledge. Unfortunately, sometimes nursing students don't get alot of opportunities to do some skills, but it is expected that you know the procedure, and it was understood you may just need more practice. I hope that who ever is orienting new nurses to whatever field of nursing they may enter that they aren't "eating their young."

smk1, LPN · Jun 24, 2006

So unless you are "certified" is it out of the scope of practice for an RN to insert and IV? This is the crux of the matter so to speak. We are taught the theory and will practice it in the lab and if an opportunity becomes available at clinical to doit then great, but most will not get the chance to try it we were told, but we are still taught how to do it. I thought it was in the scope of practice for any RN regardless of certification. Is this incorrect?

suzy253, RN · Jun 24, 2006

i didn't learn it in school; we're being trained to do it now in grad nurse orientation. We visit endoscopy and also the ER to get a lot of experience with it.

starbin, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2006

Thanks everybody.

I asked this question because my unit manager told me that I have to be certified but my co-worker who is an LPN had told me that I can put an IV because i am RN. We had a IV certification class a couple of days ago, they certified both RNs and LPNs. I heard that they are gonna bring a IV certification class for CNAs as well.

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2006

i didn't learn it in school; we're being trained to do it now in grad nurse orientation. We visit endoscopy and also the ER to get a lot of experience with it.

Strange. I just finished block 2 of an ADN program in nursing in Arizona. I've started 5 IVs in my clinicals. It's part of all nursing programs that I know of here and I'm surprised to hear of a state that does not teach IV starts to their RNs. Are we talking LPNs or LVNs? IVs are part of the RN scope of practice in this state. Maybe that's part of your hospital's policy and procedure. Check out your state's RN scope of practice in their nurse practice act.