Iv Initiation.

[starlane]

Just a question, in order to start IV's do you need to complete an IV course? (I am a new RN just hired)

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I've been a nurse for 20 years, and working in my specialty for 17. But every year, I'm required to review all my special competencies and pass an exam. I even have to recertify the performance of blood glucose monitoring. So despite the fact that IV insertion may (or may not) be taught in a basic PN or RN educational program, most people will have to demonstrate their competence in performing the skill satisfactorily to their employer before being permitted to practice the skill, and to recertify annually.

[Fiona59]

It seems to be AHS annual recert days. Med-Surg nurses in my hospital now have a designated education day to do annually. If I decided to pick up casual shifts in an AHS hospital across town, I'd still have to be certified by the "new" site's CNE to start an IV there.

Mewsin, the logic is believed to be that any bad habits you pick up at one hospital can be corrected when you start at a new one. (Trust me, we've seen a few things from nurses who were skilled in their original province have some really bad habits technique wise).

The med-surg recert is for review of equipment, introduction to new equipment and refresh techniques. Some skills I will never use on my current unit but it's nice to be able to touch the equipment so if we ever have a surprize tube feed on my unit the knowledge is in there somewhere (we really dislike the new kangaroo pumps)

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

I have never heard of IV initiation or venipuncture being taught in any nursing program around here....gotta get certified through the hospital.

[CanadianGirl79]

Depends on the facility. Where I work, ANYONE hired has to have 3 witnessed, successful starts during orientation. Even if they've been a nurse for 30 years.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

For the record, I was verifying that in America we do not learn basic skills by certification. We don't graduate school if we don't pass skills testing. We may have whoever is mentoring us watch us perform a skill the first time we do it on the job, but we should know how to do all our skills upon graduation and licensure. Now, that's not to say we don't have work sponsored classes for new equipment or procedures, but we are expected to be ready to do patient care when we are hired.

[xokw, BSN, RN]

I have also never heard of any nursing program that teaches it around here (Ontario).

[Mewsin]

FTR I know that PN programs in ON do not teach IV starts, my facility hired new grads from ON and had to get them the education.

[kp1987]

I've never heard of anyone being able to start an IV without being certified by the health authority which includes 3 successful starts and a module

[loriangel14, RN]

FTR I know that PN programs in ON do not teach IV starts, my facility hired new grads from ON and had to get them the education.

Mine did teach IV starts but I still had to get certified on the job.

[OttawaRPN/RN2B]

I know this thread is a few years old, but just wanted to add my experience here. In 1995 the hospital that I was employed at as an RPN certified us as new hires to do added nursing skills that RPNs in Ontario were not traditionally performing. IV maintenance and removal (not starting IV's) was part of that as well as venipuncture for bloodwork, among other skills. In 2010 I took a one day workshop at our local Community College on "IV initiation and maintenance and venipuncture." The class was intended for nurses who either had no previous training or wanted a refresher. My original RPN training was 24 years ago so IV initiation was not part of my program, not sure if they include it in the curriculum now as so much has changed since then. In fact IM injections were not allowed to be given by RPNs back then either but it is something that has been my responsibility to learn on the job and remain current.