IV starts in nursing school

When you were in nursing school and you were taught IV insertion, were you allowed to start them on each other? In our nursing program, it was absolutely forbidden . . . something to do with liability and blood exposure.

IMHO, we would be better prepared to start IV's on patients if we were allowed to practice on each other because the plastic arm sucks!! Plus, you would learn firsthand that IV insertion can hurt!

[TerpGal02, ASN]

We are not taught IV starts at all

uh no. We had to learn, yes. But I was not about to allow someone to start an IV in me for practice. I know how much it hurts, no matter how good the nurse is at starting IVs.

We didn't learni n school but were taught in the hospital where we ended up working. We had - and this was almost 30 years ago - very realistic models on which to practice and we weren't allowed to do it on a patient for the first time until we had it down pat on the model.

[LouisVRN, RN]

We were required to start one on each other before practicing on patients.

We are not taught IV starts at all

Oh . . . that sucks!

[AZMOMO2]

We had to take a CEU course and had to have 5 sticks on live people "classmates" before we were considerd "certified".. I took it while in nursing school so it helped... although I did not have a single start in clinical in my first year... I am thinking I will get some in the next batch of clinicals once they start for my RN-BSN portion.

uh no. We had to learn, yes. But I was not about to allow someone to start an IV in me for practice. I know how much it hurts, no matter how good the nurse is at starting IVs.

We didn't learni n school but were taught in the hospital where we ended up working. We had - and this was almost 30 years ago - very realistic models on which to practice and we weren't allowed to do it on a patient for the first time until we had it down pat on the model.

My study partner and I practiced on each other at home . . . we both had great veins! However, we only did two IV starts each . . . after that we thought we were "pro's" . . . hahaha, little did we know . . .

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

We learned to start IV's in LPN school and had to start one on another student.

[kayern]

No IVs in nursing school because of insurance and state practice regulations. We give a course using an artificial arm then the novice needs to be observed X5. Do not let your peers practice on you! I discourage you from letting your peers practice on you. A puncture site leaves you open to infection. Follow your institutions policy.

[LittleOneRN]

We started IV's on each other. Each student was (and still is as I understand) required to sign a waiver before the "event".

When we've had a new grad RN in the unit, I've often volunteered my arm for them to practice an IV start (note, I said, arm . . . no back of hand, please . . . not for a newbie). However, some of the recent new grads have been . . . how do I say it . . . "sub-optimal" . . . they were unsuccessful and my veins are visible and well-anchored, I'm getting more hesitant about volunteering . . .

[Bobbkat]

We didn't practice on eachother. I've had plenty of IV's and have been an awful stick....I didn't need the experience of a classmate jabbing me over and over again to know it's painful. We learned on the fancy bleeding arm, and then started them on patients during clinical.

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

We are not taught IV starts at all

Same.

When you were in nursing school and you were taught IV insertion, were you allowed to start them on each other? In our nursing program, it was absolutely forbidden . . . something to do with liability and blood exposure.

IMHO, we would be better prepared to start IV's on patients if we were allowed to practice on each other because the plastic arm sucks!! Plus, you would learn firsthand that IV insertion can hurt!

I agree totally. My private BSN program forbade us to do them also. Totally sucked. I had to pay like $300+ to talke an IV/Blood Class after I graduated just to learn how.

[scifihippie]

I'm in second semester of clinicals and we were taught IV starts this semester. We are not allowed to practice on each other. I've done two IVs on patients at the hospital so far. I hope by the time I graduate to have done at least a dozen or so.

NY state and no school around here teaches IV or phlebotomy--I think it's a state law thing here too. Had to learn in the hospital. Each hospital around here has different policies on who can do IVs and what you have to do to be able to do them for that hospital. My first one was in L&D and I was aweful. My preceptor just taught me and my first one was on a patient. My preceptor could have let me do it on her first but wouldn't let me. lol another hospital and I learned in ER then moved to the floors and continued to get better till I was really good at it. Left that hospital and at another hospital I had to do something like 10 sticks observed to be allowed to do them in their hospital and since it was psych and we had then very seldom I never got certified so I lost that skill which sucks. I have kept up my phlebotomy skills but its now been a while since I have done an IV. --I guess its different depending on the state and the school.

NY state and no school around here teaches IV or phlebotomy--I think it's a state law thing here too. Had to learn in the hospital. Each hospital around here has different policies on who can do IVs and what you have to do to be able to do them for that hospital. My first one was in L&D and I was aweful. My preceptor just taught me and my first one was on a patient. My preceptor could have let me do it on her first but wouldn't let me. lol another hospital and I learned in ER then moved to the floors and continued to get better till I was really good at it. Left that hospital and at another hospital I had to do something like 10 sticks observed to be allowed to do them in their hospital and since it was psych and we had then very seldom I never got certified so I lost that skill which sucks. I have kept up my phlebotomy skills but its now been a while since I have done an IV. --I guess its different depending on the state and the school.

Another NY state here. Same thing - not taught in school, learned on the job. I had to have 10 sticks watched by another certified nurse before I was allowed on my own.

[belgarion]

They didn't teach us IV strarts in LVN school. We did piggy backs in clinicals and were lectured on fluid administrations but I learned how to do a start at work. One of the nurses walked up to me at about 0300 one shift and handed mr the IV tray, stuck out an arm, and said "start one."