Essential Skills Trainings (IVT, BLS, etc.)-Are They All Worth It?

[mikeru22]

Hello fellow nurses. Just recently, I'd signed up for an IVT training in one of the private hospitals in Mandaluyong City. I was considering the travel time, fast accommodation and the number of the people I've known who took the training in the same hospital when I was choosing where to go for the training.

Everything went fine at first, there were no long queues for the training and I only waited for a month for the 3-day didactic training. My other schoolmates were telling me that it took them like a quarter of a year before they could start with their training in major institutions in the country. I waited another month for my case completion duty so I took a 5-days-off from work for it.

We're 5 in the group and on day 1 we were able to complete the requirements for medication administration. From day 2 onwards, the number of hospital admissions declined and that made it hard for us to complete the requirements. To my surprise the IV insertion cases were just being distributed in a slip of paper and we were never really allowed to do it ourselves. I was too fortunate though that one staff nurse in the ER asked me to actually perform IV insertion for a patient. The rest of the team didn't really have that chance.

The 5-day case completion schedule passed and we're lacking BT cases. I had gotten one on our 3rd day but my other teammates don't have any BT cases at all. I felt really frustrated because I never thought that it's this hard to get a BT case in that hospital. Perhaps it's just the holidays that made it worse for us and I will be calling the hospital's blood bank over and over again to inquire about any BT requests so could go there if there are any. Next week, I wouldn't have the luxury of time anymore since I will start going to work again with a grave yard shift.

I don't know if you've ever felt this but guys do you think these essential skills enhancement programs they are requiring us to attend to are all worth it when in the end we're only being asked to copy the cases from a slip of paper instead of really doing it? These trainings are all important for safe and competent nursing practice especially to us, New RNs and inexperienced ones only if the true objectives of these trainings will be correctly carried over...I hope someone in the higher ups would read this so they could look at how to protect our interests and improve the way things are being done.

How about you guys, were you very satisfied with the trainings you attended to? How long did it take you to complete it? Can you recommend any institutions where our fellow nurses who have not taken the training yet can go to? Please share your experiences and tell us anything that you have in mind about it. By so doing, our fellow nurses who are yet to attend these trainings will be warned in advance and will be able to avoid any hassles.

[NeedleFoxRN2]

I can't speak for all government hospitals but it's a strict requirement to have an IVT and BLS certification in our medical center. It is definitely important to have the right level of skill and the training is definitely valuable. The institution you are referring to should be reported to the ANSAP. That's really irresponsible on the part of the facilitators to just hand out cases.

-tip- If possible, acquire your advanced training while already employed. I got a discount with my ACLS certification because the hospital gives discounts to its employees.

[mikeru22]

Yeah I've noticed that most hospitals require applicants to have BLS and IVT trainings. You know what I'm really tempted to report them to ANSAP. What's happening out there gave me an impression that they are only good at collecting funds from trainees but they really don't care about them at all. I will take the BLS training after I'd completed the requirements for my IVT certification. Thanks for the tip.

[needlefoxRN]

Yup. If possible, get your training from Red Cross. They are up to date and you can be rest assured that the training is definitely worth your time. The HR from both hospitals I worked with didn't require me to take the in-house BLS course because they recognize PNRC training. After that, you can update your BLS via the DOH program (if government hospital) provided that the hospital director (via SO) gives you the go ahead. It's free! I'm about to resign from the private hospital I'm working at so I guess I'll update my training again with PNRC. Good luck to you!

[mikeru22]

I definitely will. I wish I could complete my IVT case requirements this coming Monday so I could start with my BLS.

[yna03]

Hi I already finished my BLS and IVT training. The hospital where I did my IVT training really made us do the insertions so I was very thankful. Though my tries were unsuccessful attempting to do it is still a help (somehow) in the future.

I waited a long time to complete my BT. We were given 15 days to finish everything and during the Day 1-3, there were a lot of other nurses doing the completion and since they were actually working in the same hospital, they could get to the cases before I could. I gave it a rest and came back on the 10th day and finished it within 15 hours. But I had to wait for it and it sure was tiring! whew...

I want to try ACLS next but it's so expensive!

Good luck on your IVT requirements. I felt like it was so hopeless at first too.

[mikeru22]

Hello Yna, it's good that you were allowed to try the IV catheter insertion yourself. You may not be successful on your attempts now but I'm sure it'll pay off in the future. Indeed I felt hopeless waiting for that one BT case that would complete my case requirements. I hope we could finish the case requirements this time. 3 of my Group mates don't have any BT cases at all and we're only 4 in the group.

BLS & ACLS will be my next agenda. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[needlefoxRN]

Don't sweat it if you miss. I've been there myself. Even veterans miss from time to time. It's always tricky with geriatric patients (bursting veins) and pedia (esp. dehydrated ones). Also, I use a good light source if it's very hard to find a vein.

Handling IVT trainees, I'm more comfortable with greens who are eager to learn and not being shy to ask for help when they need it.

[medic8]

You know what I'm really tempted to report them to ANSAP. .

That's the best thing to do. But it's better if you were able to get a strong evidence e.g. a video or a photo form you're cellphone to support your report.

[mikeru22]

That's the best thing to do. But it's better if you were able to get a strong evidence e.g. a video or a photo form you're cellphone to support your report.

hmmm it seems that the NSO heads doesn't have any ideas about what's going on in the wards whenever a trainee is on his case completion duty. I was able to complete my case requirements now and I think I'm okay.

[watsherface]

In reality it's not even worth it. Nurses may have their IVT/BLS cards sleek and shining but it doesn't give him/her work (maybe to meet up with the requirements). It can lead you either to a volunteer work or a paid training. With the months you spent just to complete the cases, another opportunity cost is wasted. On my experience, I acquired a BLS license. But when I trained at this certain tertiary hospital, they did not acknowledge our BLS training conducted by DOH-HEMS. Instead, we are required to train again in the institution and of course pay for the same training. They said they don't require us to attend it but its a requirement for their possible hiring for nurses. In the end it's just another money making scheme by whats-their-faces.

[mikeru22]

It's purely unreasonable to have someone undergo the same training or certification that he had already completed just because of whatever reason. The cost of the training is just one consideration, the validity of the certification makes things a bit grimmer.