IV spa/infusion center

Updated:   Published

Have any of you worked in an Infusion center/ IV nutrition/ IV spa type setting.  I am thinking about trying it part time one shift a week.  I have a background in massage therapy, so working in an environment that has that feel and alternative, elective treatments doesn't ruffle my feathers as long as they are safe.  I love starting IVs and have plenty of experience, I like the laid back environment and the pay is great.  My biggest concern is I would be working mostly independently, the Nurse practitioner is the owner and oversees everything, but is not always readily available and I'm not sure about the liability aspect.  I'm not really even sure where to begin looking into this...there is not a contract for me to sign or anything to really read over, which has me wondering...would I be putting myself and my license potentially at risk?  Thoughts, experiences, resources?  TIA!

1 hour ago, Been there,done that said:

There is no way in Hades I would administer anything IV... at the patient's request. What is the regulatory body for this spa?

What is the work up required before these fluids and medications  are administered? I would be especially concerned administering IV Toradol.    

 You should be concerned about your liability... YOU are responsible for any of these meds you administer. Very concerning you do not even have a job description.

 

I can understand your concern.  It can sound strange for someone who is unfamiliar.  Let me try to ease your mind though.  There was always a licensed prescriber involved (MD, NP, PA) who met with each client and then wrote the orders if they felt it was appropriate. There is a health assessment equal to that you would receive in any ED, or urgent care.  In other words it's a private practice with a very limited service, so it falls under all of the same regulations any clinic would.  It's not like it's black market Ringers, haha.

That said, is a must for anyone practicing nursing in any facility.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
8 hours ago, Redd.CCRN said:

I can understand your concern.  It can sound strange for someone who is unfamiliar.  Let me try to ease your mind though.  There was always a licensed prescriber involved (MD, NP, PA) who met with each client and then wrote the orders if they felt it was appropriate. There is a health assessment equal to that you would receive in any ED, or urgent care.  In other words it's a private practice with a very limited service, so it falls under all of the same regulations any clinic would.  It's not like it's black market Ringers, haha.

That said, malpractice insurance is a must for anyone practicing nursing in any facility.

Certainly, you have medical orders to administer. Again... the customer  is the one presenting and requesting specific  IV treatment.  This is not medical treatment, this is catering to the whims of people with money. I myself, would not perform an invasive procedure with several risks.

 I can see you have already decided to do this.

Best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
20 hours ago, Redd.CCRN said:

I can understand your concern.  It can sound strange for someone who is unfamiliar.  Let me try to ease your mind though.  There was always a licensed prescriber involved (MD, NP, PA) who met with each client and then wrote the orders if they felt it was appropriate. There is a health assessment equal to that you would receive in any ED, or urgent care.  In other words it's a private practice with a very limited service, so it falls under all of the same regulations any clinic would.  It's not like it's black market Ringers, haha.

That said, malpractice insurance is a must for anyone practicing nursing in any facility.

I think you're referring to an infusion clinic which is completely different from an "IV Spa", aka "IV Lounge", "Medical Spa", "Rent-a-drip", etc.  

An Infusion clinic provides medically legitimate treatments, whereas IV lounges and the like are the modern equivalents of Snake Oil shops.  

The risk you run by working at one of these places varies by state, although lately the FBI has begun raiding these establishments and arresting staff (most commonly just the owner / grifter, but working at one while holding a nursing license only increases your risk of legal liability since it's easier to argue you should have been aware you were taking part in fraudulent practices.

No legitimate carrier offers for those working in IV lounges, there are malpractice carriers specifically for these employees but they sound about as legit as the IV lounges themselves.  

My state's BON position is that you're essentially giving up your license by working at one of these places since you violating the terms of your license by exposing people to risks despite being aware (or at least should be aware) that these risks are not justified by any potential benefit.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

It sounds fun/chill, but I agree with above concerns. I'm not sure how thorough the provider evaluations are, and they most likely won't have pt's medical records or be able to order labs, not all pts are good historians, etc. for example if a pt has CHF and received a bunch of bags of IV fluids... not good.

Or giving toradol to a pt with kidney failure or hx of GI bleeds, etc. If people are coming for hangover treatments they may have substance abuse issues with alcohol and have more complex medical problems, risk for withdrawal, etc. Just worse case scenarios LOL I'm an anxious person. Probably not likely but don't put your license at risk!

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I saw someone go into Torsades with IV Zofran. Just sayin'. Hope there is a crash cart! 

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
6 minutes ago, Pixie.RN said:

I saw someone go into Torsades with IV Zofran. Just sayin'. Hope there is a crash cart! 

IV medication administration can be incredibly risky.  Usually it's the ones that we least expect that tend to catch us by surprise.  It's a risk that we assume every shift  One that we protect our patients from through expertise and vigilence, and one that we project ourselves from through patient education and malpractice coverage.  It's part of what distinguishes RNs from other healthcare professionals.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
2 hours ago, Pixie.RN said:

I saw someone go into Torsades with IV Zofran. Just sayin'. Hope there is a crash cart! 

I would probably be fired for trying to hook up all the patients to cardiac monitors and scaring them by listing off all the potential adverse outcomes. = ( Maybe my Stepdown pts are more delicate than healthy, wealthy people coming in to get hydrated and I'm just paranoid, LOL

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 10/16/2020 at 5:24 AM, Been there,done that said:

Certainly, you have medical orders to administer. Again... the customer  is the one presenting and requesting specific  IV treatment.  This is not medical treatment, this is catering to the whims of people with money. I myself, would not perform an invasive procedure with several risks.

I'm wondering how this is different from a patient presenting at a GP's office and asking for a specific medication, which lots of people do.  Sometimes those requests are well-founded (patient with history of chronic illness who knows what worked for past flare-ups and what hasn't advocating for herself with a new provider).  Sometimes they aren't (person asking to try Drug X that he saw advertised on TV).  People from outside of the US don't understand why it is legal for drug manufacturers to market directly to the public, when that would be considered unethical as well as illegal in other countries.  We live in a culture where just about every magazine implores us to "ask your doctor about" whatever wonderful new drug a pharmaceutical company is touting.  Asking for a liter of LR doesn't seem outrageous in comparison.

There are many areas of medicine that cater to the "whims of people with money." Plastic surgery is a big one.  Obviously some plastic surgery is reconstructive, but a huge portion of it is purely cosmetic. You might not feel comfortable assisting with those procedures, but rhinoplasty is a legitimate medical procedure.

As long as the provider is doing a proper assessment and history at the IV clinic, there shouldn't be anything prescribed that would be contraindicated.  If you're giving Zofran, there better be a recent EKG.  If you're giving Mg or K, you should have lab confirmation that those levels are low.  If you're giving hydration, make sure there's no CHF history.

I agree that even the most innocuous infusion is not without risk, including the risks that go with venipuncture.  But just about every medical intervention has a risk/reward calculation.  I don't think it's fair to say it's not a medical treatment just because it's requested by a wealthy patient.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Take a look at Philadelphia, PA's  IV Hydration Lounge for various infusions  available--clinic open 10AM-5PM daily or can arrange in home / work /hotel location setitng for additional fee.

"Our goal is to provide customized IV infusions to help clients feel their best in a variety of different ways.?

https://www.cityhydration.com/

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 10/17/2020 at 3:14 PM, Pixie.RN said:

I saw someone go into Torsades with IV Zofran. Just sayin'. Hope there is a crash cart! 

Ditto.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 10/17/2020 at 3:14 PM, Pixie.RN said:

I saw someone go into Torsades with IV Zofran. Just sayin'. Hope there is a crash cart! 

Private practice offices and even urgent care offices will call 911 if you code.  The provider's there are rarely ACLS certified as it is so rare for them to be faced with that kind of emergency.  

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
13 minutes ago, Redd.CCRN said:

Private practice offices and even urgent care offices will call 911 if you code.  The provider's there are rarely ACLS certified as it is so rare for them to be faced with that kind of emergency.  

Private medical offices these days almost always have an AED, but the bigger issue is that a patient coding as the result of an appropriate medical intervention presents much different legal and licensure liability than someone who codes from a non-medically indicated intervention and/or without sufficiently thorough medical evaluation prior to the intervention.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion