How to learn to start IVs?

[Momma1RN]

I graduated with my BSN last year. I've worked on a tele floor at a community hospital and we have an IV team that starts and maintains all IV lines. We did not learn in school how to start an IV. When I was hired, I asked if I could have the opportunity to shadow and train with the IV team, but was told no, because we have an IV team. I feel like it's a skill I should have and am nervous about being turned down for future opportunities because I have never started an IV before. Thanks!

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

It was a long time ago but I took a class while in nursing school from an outside company. I don't think it helped much though as we practiced on fake arms then on each other.

When I started nursing, I asked my manager if I could go with the iv nurse for a shift. She was great in giving tips but it didn't help me much in actuality because our iv nurse usually gets all the hard sticks.

Since your manager isn't receptive, try getting a shadow day by talking to the manager of ER or a procedural area like pre-op or GI lab as they start IV's all day.

Does your facility's policy state that the iv nurse must start all the IV's or can you try first? You should try first if possible because you will never get any experience or any better at it if you don't try.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

At my old job they sent the new nurses to outpatient surgery.

IV skills aren't all that important. If you don't use it then you run the risk of losing it.

[Amistad, RN]

I wouldn't worry too much about not having IV skills for a future position. In my experience managers look for willing and eager candidates who can easily be trained above those with a poor attitude. Clearly you are on the right path if you are looking for ways to improve yourself and learn as a nurse!

When I was learning IV starts, I asked my colleagues to grab me when they needed an IV start so I could try (it didn't happen too often on that unit because most patients had central lines). It was atrocious at first but I got the hang of it!

[swimmingpoolblues]

I am watching this post because I've been worried about this same thing. I graduated from nursing school two years ago and only got practice on the rubber arm. At least it had a bag of red IV fluid so we could see if we hit the veins, but I only got to use it 2 or 3 times. It also had perfect veins, of course. I wanted to learn more so badly that I actually paid for an extra preceptorship at a hospital where there was no IV team so that I could get practice. Guess what? I still didn't get to do it. Every time we had a patient that needed an IV start, my preceptor told me that each one was a 'hard stick' and never let me even try. I was so frustrated about it.

I love my work as a private duty nurse in home care, but I still don't feel like a 'real' RN when I have never done a blood draw, nor successfully started an IV in a real live person. Although I am happy with my job, they haven't raised my pay since I started over a year ago ($23 for night shifts, $20 is my base pay). I realize that I don't want this to my my 'end stop'. I want to learn so much more - but I find that I am nervous to even apply anywhere else when I don't have any venipuncture skills. I feel that it is really holding me back, even if only in my imagination. I have even thought about trying to take a phlebotomy course, but I live in a rural area so the nearest place is two hours away.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Honestly, starting IV lines is a "monkey skill." I say that because it's "just" a psychomotor skill that isn't exclusive to the domain of nursing. There are EMT Basics that are taught and legally authorized to perform this skill. For Paramedics, that's a core skill for them. That isn't the case for RNs though it's within their scope of practice. There are IV certification courses that you might be able to take on your own to learn the basics of starting IV lines. For example, my program did put us through a certification program... but we only had to start a grand total of 6 lines successfully before we could be considered certified. Your employer will decide if they want you to use that skill and if they do, they'll train you or they'll test you to ensure that you meet their standards for that skill.

IV skills are NOT a core skill for paramedics. Assessing and treating patient's independently and with little physician input , appropriately IS! To include MULTIPLE medications which are ever increasing, IO, intubation, Umbilical lines in some areas, 12 lead EKGs and we have to interpret them, not just hand them to a MD, cardioversion, pacing and anything else in ACLS!! ... Paramedics do FAR more than start IVs in people, we are not "skills junkies"!!

I am not sure if you intent was to make it sound like paramedics are just IV starters, we are not! I have never heard of any state that allows EMT basics to start IVs either, of course that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Please do research on the roles of different professionals before you call what you think our "core" skill is something a monkey can do. I am both an RN and a medic and can say i do FAR more critical thinking as a medic than I do as a nurse, and without having to ask "mother may I" before administering treatment!

Annie

[toERortonot]

OP... you'll learn. try 2 sticks and then tell your charge. i put in 4 successful lines in the past 3 days.

i need to find an adequately staffed hospital. IV team...? i don't even have a CNA~!

[Momma1RN, MSN, RN, APRN]

OP... you'll learn. try 2 sticks and then tell your charge. i put in 4 successful lines in the past 3 days.

i need to find an adequately staffed hospital. IV team...? i don't even have a CNA~!

We don't even have the equipment on our floor. And I've never once seen a staff nurse on the floor attempt an IV. Come to think of it, I'm not sure we would even be allowed to.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

At my old job they sent the new nurses to outpatient surgery.

IV skills aren't all that important. If you don't use it then you run the risk of losing it.

I am shocked that you do not feel IV skills are "important." Stat IV access can be the difference between life and death. What area are you working in?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

We don't even have the equipment on our floor. And I've never once seen a staff nurse on the floor attempt an IV. Come to think of it, I'm not sure we would even be allowed to.

Holy mother of God. Where do you work?

[Momma1RN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Small community hospital in Rhode Island 😕

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Small community hospital in Rhode Island ������

Do you not feel that starting an IV on your patient.. could be the difference in life or death?

[Nurse Leigh]

The hospital where I worked had an IV team, and unless you were on a CCU or in the ED, it was against policy to start an IV. This was entirely left to the IV nurses if you worked m/s, tele, or ortho, etc. Once an IV nurse transferred back to the floor and apparently it was against policy for even her to start an IV once she left the IV team.

Different hospitals have different policies and while many of those policies may make little to no sense, we have to work within them.