Blood draws and Starting IVs

MikeyJ, RN · Dec 17, 2008

Most nursing students do not get a whole lot of exposure to blood draws & IV's but do not fret... you should get a lot of experience when you begin working as an RN.

As a student I probably did 2 IV sticks on patients and 2 or 3 on fellow classmates. I never did a blood draw as a student.

As an RN I have done some blood draws and a few IV attempts -- I always have a seasoned RN in the room with me when I do my IV attempts so they can coach me. I have done a few blood draws but I work in the Ped's ICU and many of our patients have central lines and arterial lines, thus we always draw from them.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

Sure nurses start IVs! During school it might seem like you don't get many opportunities to start them, but look for any opportunities and go for it! Tell your preceptors that you want to start an IV and tell the other nurses on the floors you have clinicals at. You're bound to find someone who needs an IV.

Also, our clinical instructors would rotate their students through a unit like same day surgery, where nearly all patients get IVs started by the RN, or I went through an outpatient infusion center in clinicals that patients came to to get IVs started, IV antibiotics or chemo and they left...I had many good IV starts and those nurses were awesome at teaching. Perhaps inquire with your clinical instructors if your clinical sites have areas like this where you can practice IV starts for a clinical day.

floatRN · Dec 17, 2008

I never did blood draws or IV's in nursing school. Depending on where you work, you might never have to. Alot of hospitals have IV nurses and most have phlebotomists. If you do end up in a job where you need those skills, you will learn on the job. Its something that just takes alot of practice.

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Dec 17, 2008

As a student I did no IV starts or lab draws. Since starting work in the ER, I do them daily. It's not a big deal, basically practice, practice, practice. And some folks are just plain hard sticks.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

My school did not allow students to do blood draws or start IVs...so the 1st week I was a nurse I was eager to get some exp. My mgr sent me down to ER where I was able to practice all day. Rarely now do I get to do blood draws as lab comes up and does them for us....but I was getting ready to work at a health fair where I would be drawing blood for 4 hours so I wanted some extra practice so since my unit was slow i asked lab if I could follow them around for thier am draws. They were happy to have me do it and I was grateful for the practice.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Dec 17, 2008

We didn't do any sticks like that in school. I got all my experience while orienting to my unit. There are places that offer iv and blood draw seminars - usually a weekend class. Keep your eyes open for one - they advertise them all the time in nursing spectrum and advance magazines.

81FSUseminole · Dec 17, 2008

my advice,

ask as often as you can to start IVs, draw blood, from the most difficult "sticks" you can. the only way to improve is to practice. when i first started i was terrible. after making it known to coworkers i was interested in starting their IVs I improved a lot. i think i started one IV while in school. good luck!

Music in My Heart · Dec 17, 2008

Through 3 semesters I've started 5 IVs (and missed 1) on patients and done about 8 on classmates (we often practice on each other after clinicals).

Regarding advice, see if you can lay your hands on the following article from Nursing Magazine:

"On the road to successful IV starts" by D. A. Millam and L. C. Hadaway published in May, 2003 of Nursing (Vol 33, supplement 1). It's excellent.

I'm sorry I can't post it here but it's copyrighted.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

I also never started them in school but got plenety of practice on the floor. Just seek out oppurtunities with coworkers. most should be willing to help. I still remember my first one by myself...lol...I left the needle in not just the catheter and i later realized what i did and corrected it. It just takes practice

meadow85 · Dec 17, 2008

We only read about blood draws and IV insertions in school. It wasn't until I started working that I had the opportunity to practice it on a regular basis, one of the benefits of working on med/surg, you learn a lot of skills. And now I must say I am pretty darn good at it.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

I never did blood draws or started IVs in school. I got to try each maybe once. I learned blood draws by being placed in phlebotomy for a day during orientation. I still can't do an IV. I've never had to start one in my field.