How to Become IV certified.

[Jgun359]

Hello,

I am a certified CNA, wrapping up my first year of nursing school. As is becoming the standard, I am not going to be IV trained during this program (I guess it normally happens as an on the job training now days). I'm looking into becoming IV certified over the summer, but have no idea where one can acquire such certification or what requirements it may have. Any input is helpful! By the way, I live in Minneapolis mn.

Thanks!

Joseph Gundlach

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

What are you planning to do with that cert? If you're not able to start lines as a cna, then you won't get practice and you'll simply be wasting your money.

[amanda_k28]

Not teaching IVs in nursing school is not "becoming the norm." It depends on which program you choose and I would definitely NOT choose a program that doesn't cover such a fundamental nursing skill.

[Jgun359]

I'm simply trying to gain more experience as I'm certain ill eventually need the skill. I figure it can only help as far as finding a job goes. I understand that hospitals usually require their nurses to be IV certified through the hospital regardless of prior certification. I've been taught everything about IVs, just have not been trained on how to place one. It would be great if someone could provide a resource or company that offers certification.

[SwansonRN]

I am going to agree with the other poster. The class itself doesn't really make a big difference if you aren't going to be practicing on patients until you graduate from nursing school at which point you'll probably need to be recertified anyway. The best experience you can get is by doing them over and over on patients that complain or jerk their arm away or on veins that roll and blow aka the real world not under perfect conditions on a mannequin that bleeds. I get wanting to have it on your résumé, but I don't know of any IV cert classes offered to non-licensed practitioners and if there was I think it would be a waste of time and money. I would suggest phlebotomy class over PIV class.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

At the CNA level, I would completely agree... you're going to be better off with a phlebotomy cert than with an IV cert. Why? You'll actually be able to use that skill and you'll get experience putting sharp stuff in people's veins. The technique is a bit different, but you'll be better off in the long-run.

[BluegrassRN]

I'm not in your state, but in my state, IV certification is exclusive to the LPN. It allows the LPN to start IVs, give most meds in PIVs, and assess sites. You wouldn't be allowed to take a class (most are through community colleges) unless you already had your LPN license.

As for your statement that "I understand that hospitals usually require their nurses to be IV certified through the hospital regardless of prior certification." I'm not sure where you are getting your information. Hospitals typically *train* their nurses on their P&Ps, materials, pumps, etc. No class is going to help with that, as every hospital has different equipment and different policies. No hospital requires all their nurses to be IV certified; that's simply false. There isn't an IV certification for RNs.

If you are talking about advanced certification through professional organizations, that typically is reserved only for those nurses working exclusively in IV therapy.

Placement of IVs will come with clinicals. If not, it'll come with on the job training, if you need it.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

In Texas you would not be allowed to start IV's or administer IV meds unless you are a nurse. Your CNA scope of practice simply would not allow it. However, phlebotomy is another story and would open up a whole new career for you.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I'm simply trying to gain more experience as I'm certain ill eventually need the skill. I figure it can only help as far as finding a job goes. I understand that hospitals usually require their nurses to be IV certified through the hospital regardless of prior certification. I've been taught everything about IVs, just have not been trained on how to place one. It would be great if someone could provide a resource or company that offers certification.

I don't think it's going to be that helpful since you won't really be using it. It takes a lot of sticks to become proficient, so my guess is a potential employer isn't going to be all that impressed, other than the fact that it shows you take initiative.

FWIW, nursing school does not teach you "everything" about IVs. Not by a mile...and I went to a really good school that did teach IV starts.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Not teaching IVs in nursing school is not "becoming the norm." It depends on which program you choose and I would definitely NOT choose a program that doesn't cover such a fundamental nursing skill.

If you search allnurses on this topic, you'd find that it's actually very common not to learn IVs in nursing school depending on your region and state.

To the OP, I agree with the others saying to wait until you graduate and not worry about it. If you live in an area where it's not common to learn it during school, local hospitals will expect to teach that skill as a new grad, and you really won't be good at it until you have a lot of practice under your belt. It was something I was super anxious about learning too, but it ended up not being a big deal to learn on the job. I think there are better uses of your time and money to help make you stand out to future employers: join a nursing association, go to chapter meetings, be active in your school nursing association, attend interesting conferences, etc.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I'm simply trying to gain more experience as I'm certain ill eventually need the skill. I figure it can only help as far as finding a job goes. I understand that hospitals usually require their nurses to be IV certified through the hospital regardless of prior certification. I've been taught everything about IVs, just have not been trained on how to place one. It would be great if someone could provide a resource or company that offers certification.

Here's something else to consider... I used to work in the prehospital arena. I'm a Paramedic and I've done quite a few IV starts. Guess what? Unless your patient is a really hard stick, starting an IV is a monkey skill. The reason I say that is starting an IV is usually not that difficult of a skill to perform. It's almost easy enough that you could probably teach a monkey to do it. Heck, they used to teach that skill in the military to non-medical (not medics/corpsmen) personnel. For all I know, they may still be doing that.

LPNs and LVNs can start IV's if they have the IV cert. RNs have that as one of the skills in their scope of practice. Hospitals put on their own IV classes because they want to make sure that all their employees that are authorized to start an IV knows how to do it "their" way.

The point is, don't worry about learning how to start an IV. You'll have to have the right license level and certificate (if need be) to be able to do it. If your employer wants you to learn how to do it, they'll put you through the class and/or find some way to get you authorized to start an IV. Phlebotomy will open up another employment avenue and get you experience working with "live" people. The harder part of doing an IV is making sure that it's indicated. You don't start an IV because you can...

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

Wow... It is a skill that even a "monkey" can do... I do NOT agree Akulahawk. Starting/Placing an IV catheter is so much more than "just sticking someone!"

Not being aware of that, may mean that that important education hasn't come your way yet...

P.S. I hope you get it soon!