IV certification LVN

U.S.A. California

Published

Hi guys, I just started LVN school. I'm curious about what you learn in IV certification class. Is this the way we learn to administer IV Meds? I'm thinking that the reason they say that LVN can't give IV meds is that its not actually part of the program.But we do have the option of getting the training and certified, am I right? Someone please clear this up for me. I know I can ask my teacher, but I'm kinda impatient LOL....Nikki

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

You cannot take IV Certification courses until after you have passed your boards and got your LVN license. Once you are licensed you can take an IV Cert. class which is about 3 days long. It teaches you what you can give through an IV (blood, etc) and what you cannot (we cannot give any drugs). It also teaches you how to start an IV and of course, your 6 mandatory pokes. Hope that clears it up for you.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

You cannot take IV Certification courses until after you have passed your boards and got your LVN license. Once you are licensed you can take an IV Cert. class which is about 3 days long. It teaches you what you can give through an IV (blood, etc) and what you cannot (we cannot give any drugs). It also teaches you how to start an IV and of course, your 6 mandatory pokes. Hope that clears it up for you.

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Some places let you take the IV course then after you passed NCLEX, they will give your certification..

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Each state's LPN/LVN scope of practice differs regarding IVs. I recently moved from California to Texas, where the LVN scope of practice is extremely wide. IV-certified LVNs are permitted to do IV pushes, IV piggybacks, PICC line flushes, start and stop IVs, and other tasks. In Texas we're simply not allowed to hang blood or TPN.

I attended a southern California LVN school that offered the IV certification class to all recent graduates. However, only those who have completed an LVN program are permitted to take an IV therapy class.

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Hmmm...

That's interesting. When my son was hospitalized a few weeks ago a LVN gave Morphine and acyclovir through his IV. Then again, it was at Balboa Naval hospital, maybe that was why. The bases are goverment property so I guess they go by federal laws. Maybe they trained her. Nikki

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Specializes in CV Intermediate, M/S, tele, PCU, ortho.

As an LVN in texas I used to start IV's do iv pushes initiate and monitor IV drips; cardizem, lidocaine, heparin, dopamine...etc; we could also change central line dressing changes, draw blood from PICCS, flush PICCS and centrals, hang IV fluid bags, all IVPB's, IV push narcotics, IV push dig, cardizem, lidocaine, heparin, etc...only thing we couldnt do was spike a bag of blood...silly huh. I was trained in LVN school on IV therapy

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