IV Certification

I've heard of IV certification but don't really know anything about it. What is the advantage of having it?

Most places (in Ohio...I can't speak outside of there, really) require you to be IV certified as a nurse, or you aren't really hireable. Most LVN & four year schools include a med and IV course now so that students don't have to take one separately - so, when I got licensed, I was an "LPN M-IV". As RN students, we were expected to do IVs with our LPN license, so it's fairly well assumed that anyone past LPN has it around here.

I can't believe that you come out of schools unable to do IVs without a separate piece of paper.

In my state, IV certification is required for LPN/LVNs who work with IV administration, RNs are expected to have the knowledge and skills from their RN program. RNs take an IV course when they have not worked with IVs or want to brush up on their skills for a new position.

That sounds more reasonable.

I graduate from nursing school 15 years ago and have always worked in clinics where I did not use my IV skill learned in school, therefor I need a refresher course. It's not like I never took the course in school!!

In my state, IV certification is required for LPN/LVNs who work with IV administration, RNs are expected to have the knowledge and skills from their RN program. RNs take an IV course when they have not worked with IVs or want to brush up on their skills for a new position.

The IV administration you refer to sounds like a certification that I've heard of in IV therapy administration and this seems reasonable. But starting IVs is such a simple thing to me that I just don't get the need for it. I was taught in school how to do them and got lots of experience in my last semester during clinicals. I realize that many nurses don't get a lot of experience prior to graduation, but my first job also trained on IVs during hospital orientation. IDK, just seems like another way to get us to spend money when it can easily be taught during orientation.

I graduate from nursing school 15 years ago and have always worked in clinics where I did not use my IV skill learned in school, therefor I need a refresher course. It's not like I never took the course in school!!

I wouldn't spend money on brushing up on IV's. Maybe you could volunteer in the ER of the hospital you're hired at and just put in a couple dozen. You'll be comfortable with IV's in a few days.