How many IVs....

sbic56, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
really? we had to do MANY prior to graduating...and so did ALL the nursing students where I went to school, so your assertion is wrong. and if you don't, then where do you expect to learn?????

ya don't get much experience on fake arms, it's the 'real mc coy" you need.

No, SBE, I'm not wrong in that it is not part of the nursing skills taught here and I did indicate that in my post. Also, I see that many students here are in programs something like mine was in that they have to learn the skill otj, too. But, I won't say you are wrong, though you would be here.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2003

We had one day of classroom/lab for IV's and the rest was done in clinical. It was up to the individual student if they wanted to have that experience in clincals. If you wanted to,, we let the instructor, our team leader know and they tried to get us sticks as they came up. Our instructors also let us rotate through Ambulatory surgery where we were able to get plenty of sticks.

I didnt do to many while in school for my RN because i had 8 years experience as a LPN. I let the other girls take them if they wanted. So how many of you stand in the grocery store line and vein watch now? :eek: You know you do,, sizing up what size intercath you would need, etc. What about those young guys with garden hoses running up and down their arms,, wouldnt that be FUN????:)

Erin RN · Nov 26, 2003

When I was in school I spent 4 clinicals with IV therapy and that is all I did. I also spent 3 clinicals in short stay and I started IVs on pretty much everyone that was having a procedure. they even let me start them on children going in for a T and A. Then of course there were no acute nursing jobs when I graduated so I stayed in LTC..eventually I went into iv home infusion lots of "line" experience but still mostly central lines, epidural lines, sub q sites an occasional PIV (usually had to go in the middle of the night in a snowstorm to a LTC facility) Then I went to the ER...Now we are talking..an IV a minute seeemed like!! I think when I worked ER I could close my eyes and throw it in from the door. What I am saying is that until you work someplace that you are required to put them in over and over, don't worry about it. I had some practice in school but it was forgotten by the time I hit the ER...after 4 yrs in the ER..I am fairly sure I could pick it right up..there is a certain feel to it (kind of like riding a bike!!) Erin

BarbPick · Nov 26, 2003

Really dating myself, my first IV was with a butterfly. I now reccomend using butterflies for lab draws, good experience.

I know in Florida, LPN's are required to take a 30 hour course to be able to do IV therapy by law. Half the class were usually RN who wanted to learn or just update their skills. Check at the Local Continuing education places near you

Here is a link to the one down here, they might be able to reccomend a place for you to go.

http://www.nursingunlimited.com/

NurseDixie · Nov 26, 2003

Our program doesn't teach IV insertion either. We have to learn after we graduate, on the job. My friend who graduated last year started her first IV on her nursing supervisor. He knew she had to learn so he volunteered and she got it on the first stick.

I hope I'm that lucky. :eek:

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2003

Doesn't allow nursing students to do anything invasive at all. We will learn it on the job. The most we get to do is insert a foley.

Love-A-Nurse · Nov 26, 2003

we learn in theory, practice in lab, and get to start them in our rotations. although i know how to start ivs, i don't "pushed" that information and start them to let my instructor see for herself. i want every opportunity while in this clinical rotation that is required and acceptable.

i am curious, when those of you who say the skill is not taught, do you mean you don't have it in your lecture class/lab, or just don't get to do the procedure in clinical? interesting to share other experiences, indeed.

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2003

We don't learn how to start an IV in class. We hang bags, flush them, D/C them but we don't start them. We haven't received any information on how to start them at all. They tell us that it has been a liability issue in the past but that I find hard to believe. I think that there is so much to learn that the school now have to pick an choose what they teach. I will learn how to do them when I get into the work force. The hospital I am going to has an IV team anyway and they start all lines in the hospital. For me it will be one of those skills that I learn and will seldom ever use in practice. I know other hopsitals are different but the hospital I will be working at has an IV team. :)

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 26, 2003

WOW so I am the wrong one here!!!!! (indeed)

I never knew a student/grad who had not started an IV (rather, SEVERAL), prior to finishing nursing school.

This has been educational indeed....I can't imagine WHY NOT...it's as basic a skill as bed bathing and cath'ing would be. WHY would they do such a disservice to students? I am dismayed.

Glad I went to the program I did, where I had such skills at least taught and a few under my belt before starting out...

and sbic, I said your assertion was wrong, cause I misinterpreted you to mean "no students do IV's....sorry about that. I did not mean to be rude, but I can see how I looked VERY rude in my post! (sorry).....

Just letting you know some of us did quite a few. I am lucky enough to be one of them ---would have hated not having done these basic skills as I hit the floor as a GN.

Those of you who are afraid, don't be. You need to try and do as much as you can while you have the safety net of your instructors there for you......explore explore explore and do all you can do get your feet wet. Drop those NG tubes, start those IV's (if taught), do those foleys (esp the tough ones), observe EVERY procedure you can get in on.......EVERYTHING. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO LEARN AND YOU ARE PAYING BIG BUCKS FOR THIS TUTELAGE!!!!!

BELIEVE ME, you will be glad and so will your preceptors/new coworkers when you begin nursing on your own. DO NOT HIDE from learning experiences, go with gusto. THAT I know my instructors appreciated a LOT when I was in school. Don't be afraid to TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once you become a nurse, you will have a lot to learn w/o having to take a lot of time on very basic skills. Trust me.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2003

As a seasoned nurse I will add that the purpose of school is to prepare you for the board exam. You will learn skills at work, because facilities have various policies, guidelines, equipment, etc. I have had to "un-teach" new grads who could only perform a skill one way, the way they learned in school, and it was contrary to "our way". So please come to me with knowledge on how an IV is maintained, what fluids can be infused and for how long but let me teach you how to poke a hole. It is a skill, like many others, and you will get it!

BarbPick · Nov 26, 2003

Originally posted by purplemania
As a seasoned nurse I will add that the purpose of school is to prepare you for the board exam. You will learn skills at work, because facilities have various policies, guidelines, equipment, etc. I have had to "un-teach" new grads who could only perform a skill one way, the way they learned in school, and it was contrary to "our way". So please come to me with knowledge on how an IV is maintained, what fluids can be infused and for how long but let me teach you how to poke a hole. It is a skill, like many others, and you will get it!

Amen Sister !!!! Second to that is orienting someone, an old nurse who only knows how to say "when I was at Mount Sinai, we did it this way"

sbic56, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2003

S'OK Deb! We all goof sometimes. It shows real class to admit it!

I totally agree that nursing schools should be required to provide more actual hands on clinical experiences in many areas; IV insertion definitely being one of them. I have met new RN's who have never inserted a foley cather or given an IM injection, besides in the lab on manequins. Hard to believe, but so! The actual hands on varies greatly from program to program and student to student within programs, unfortunately. Theory is the main focus, as someone pointed out. School is meant mainly to prepare students for boards, not the floor. Because of that, new nurses are sometimes poorly equipt to provide patient care for months after graduation, but that's a whole topic in and of itself!