Anyone out there an IV Tech?

[CalaMom]

I was just curious....as the topic came up today at one of my clinical rotations (for phlebotomy) at one of the hospitals.

Quick backstory: I was talking with my preceptor and a "coworker" (still just a student) about looking for possible positions and routes they had previously looked into, passed up or accepted. The topic faded, as the orders came ind, WELL we happened to run into someone from the IV team. My preceptor asked if she was specifically an RN or part of the IV Team; she said she needed to get her RN before she could become certified and part of the Team, but also that she had had phlebotomy experience early on in her career.

Which got me thinking, and looking at different things as well about it all, as I thought/read on here that it was something you COULD get certified in if you chose to-NOT that the RN credentials were a stepping stone to becoming an IV Tech. Also, I would've thought that as an RN ALONE not to mention with certifications in certain areas, that the pay would be if anything slightly better than "good-mediocre".

Again, I'm not a nurse by any means, haven't delved into the topic of either too much. Just curious. Thanks and hope everyone has a good night/day.

[brownbook]

In the hospital setting if someone is a tech that almost 100% implies they do not have a nursing degree. Have not passed the state board exam to be a Registered Nurse. Techs usually have some schooling, they may be licensed or credentialed. You wrote "the RN credentials were a stepping stone to becoming an IV Tech" which makes no sense.

I never worked where there was an IV team. I do know they are RN's. I don't know if nurses on the IV team get compensated. I'm guessing if they do it isn't a lot of money. And it will vary from hospital to hospital. Most nurses on the IV team do not have any advanced training. They just happen to be great at starting IV's.

Once you pass the state boards as a RN and are hired in a hospital, or other type of facility, you can get advanced, specialized training and certifications. These often cost a lot of money. Some hospitals add a few cents/dollars an hour for becoming credentialed, some do not.

Most hospitals can't even decide if BSN nurses should be paid more than ADN nurses.

There are 100's of different positions, jobs, one can have in a hospital with varying levels of education needed. It is no wonder patients often have no idea who is doing what to them!

[harvestmoon, RN]

one hospital i have worked at has an IV team that is RN only. They also have an enormous phlebotomy department that does all inpatient blood draws. The other hospital has all RNs do IVs and also has a huge inpatient phlebotomy department for blood draws.