Need IV Access/Phelobotomy Classes

JerseyGirl73 · Apr 1, 2008

Hi...As I wrote in another post, there are openings at Bayshore Hospital in Holmdel. I know it is a small hospital and doesn't compare with some of the bigger, more modern facilities.

However, there ARE openings in med surg at least, maybe some other areas as well...I applied on line last summer and got a call right away....

http://www.bchs.com

Good luck.............

anangelsmommy, ADN, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2009

I know this is an old thread but the subject isnt old and I am being hired by a home health agency. I have prior military experience but new nursing grad, tons of phlebotomy experience but if I can get the IV course my pay will double, so I disagree as far as the marketing...it makes me WAY more marketable. and I am interview with 3 more home health agencies and if you have the IV course and they know you can do the home infusion on top of everything else - it is a HUGE plus- the cases you can take open way up, and the infusion rates are double - they cant guarantee you full time but if I can get a few of these, well I sure wouldnt mine, know what I mean?

so I really want to take this course. When I was in the military, they did an IV course with us, I was in Desert Storm so we had to be prepared for anything as medics but I really need a refresher and I need to know the anatomy etc.

anyhelp in NJ or DE would be appreciated. also, do you know, if I work in NJ, does it matter where I take the course?

tutored · Sep 6, 2009

I work in NJ. Call, first, hospitals in your area to see if they will open their internal IV access course to outsiders for a fee. (I'm assuming you have your RN license. Only RNs can start IVs in)...nearly all hospitals have IV access courses. If you don't find one in NJ, NY Presbyterian Hopsital opens their IV Access course to outside nurses, and I'm almost certain the UMDNJ will. Both are teaching hospitals.

tutored · Sep 6, 2009

Hi Steve RN:

Are you still at NYP? I'd love to work there. I'm in MICU/SICU in NJ. only 1-1/2 years experience, though. Offhand, hard to get into your MICU with this level of experience?

anangelsmommy, ADN, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2009

Do you have to be an RN to start an IV in NJ? Two of us LPN's that just graduated were asked if we had IV certs? so that is what got us looking into it and i wasnt sure if it was just NJ? I know I was in DE last week and a MT started my IV and got me ready for a procedure. So I figured if an MT can do it, then as an LPN I should be able to also? I thought that the only an LPN couldnt do was push meds?

My new employer asked me also, I had the class but it was probably about 20 years ago in the military. I am fine with phlebotomy skills but IV I would have to start over.

tutored · Sep 6, 2009

Do you have to be an RN to start an IV in NJ? Two of us LPN's that just graduated were asked if we had IV certs? so that is what got us looking into it and i wasnt sure if it was just NJ? I know I was in DE last week and a MT started my IV and got me ready for a procedure. So I figured if an MT can do it, then as an LPN I should be able to also? I thought that the only an LPN couldnt do was push meds?
My new employer asked me also, I had the class but it was probably about 20 years ago in the military. I am fine with phlebotomy skills but IV I would have to start over.

I may be wrong, but I remember back in school my final-semeseter instructor explaining to us that we, as students, could never practice starting IVs because in NJ only RNs, or Paramedics, can start IVs...I was incredulous that there would be unfortunate patients in my future as a nurse that I would have to "practice on"....going straight into critical care out of school, you can imagine the nightmares I had to face trying to start lines on these kind of patients. There was an LPN in my class that was also in the same boat. YOu're also right that LPNs can't push IV drugs. If you can tap a vein well for blood draws, I imagine you'll do just find starting indwelling catheters. Do you have a "significant other", so to speak, who would let you try? (half-kidding, half-serious)

anangelsmommy, ADN, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2009

We thought the same thing but the woman hiring my friend said that we could start IVs and run bags, just not do PUSH drugs and we are both RN students now so we both want these skills. My new empolyer told me that my pay doubles when I get this class but they dont teach it but they do give a lot of other classes, like trach vent for instance, I have done alot of stuff - NG/J/G tubes cpap/bipap, o2, suctioning, monitors or every sort wound care, wound vac, seizure meds including rectal, so I have a lot of experience and they will give me the rest. except this ONE thing. and school doesnt provide this. I did find one place that will give a class but I have to get at least 10 people to take the class but I think with a class of 30 lpn to rns....might not be difficult.

I just was hoping to get it done now! know what I mean? and to make sure it is legal! I know i can do it in DE, just not sure in NJ? my close friend used to work in DE as an LPN and she was a wound care nurse. She did it all. moved to NJ and they said....oh you can do wound care...your an LPN. so she told them, in del you can do that and I did, in fact I was in charge etc. so they ended up having her do everything, she ran ragged. The RN just signed the paperwork. so here they didnt even believe her in the beginning and then they used all her skills but let someone else sign off on her work. which I guess they just said someone was "supervising her...? I wish they would standardize things state to state. I start class next week, I will ask my instructor. but if I have to, I may take the class in DE just so i have the skills for when I graduate RN.

JP