IV starts in nursing schools

Madras · Nov 12, 2014

I have a preceptee in her last semester that has never given an injection on a real person, never hung a piggyback and only has given a handful of PO meds. She's so intelligent and eager to learn but they just don't offer much clinical experience, and it's a well known program.

I promised her before she leaves me she will have started an IV and I'm giving her every med that comes our way.

These students are going to be licensed nurses and on their own in just a few short months, they should be properly equipped!

sandytoes · Nov 12, 2014

I have a preceptee in her last semester that has never given an injection on a real person, never hung a piggyback and only has given a handful of PO meds.

This blows my mind. I have given so many heparin/lovenox/insulin injections I have lost count. Never mind flu and pneumonia vax.... Starting with 1st semester we were giving shots and meds (I'm 3 of 5 semesters now). You sound like an awesome preceptor and your student is lucky to have you :) I can only hope to be so lucky when it's my turn to have a preceptor!

studentnursemon86 · Nov 12, 2014

I am first year in an ADN program. We have it on our syllabus for the last two weeks; so it looks like we will be taught to do it; but most hospitals in the area do not allow students to start IVs, so we probably won't get to in a clinical setting.

As for meds, we will start next year. That includes PO, SQ, IM, and IV push.

We need to pass a competency test for medication calculation before we do this in clinical.

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2014

I am a nursing professor and our university currently does not teach IV starts to students as part of the cirriculum. I am pushing for that to change.
Did most of you recent graduates learn to start IVs in school?
Thank you.
Dayna, Seattle

I graduated in 2006, so not sure if you consider that "recent" or not, but yes, IV starts were definitely part of our education. We practiced in skills lab on a fake arm, and we were encouraged to start as many IVs as possible during our clinicals. As a student, I think I did 3 or 4 IV starts.

Wave Watcher · Nov 12, 2014

We had one day of voluntary IV starts. If we wanted to give it a try we could....if not then no big deal. Most of our experience was on the floors during clinicals.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 12, 2014

It was REQUIRED that we have a successful stick on another classmate in first semester skills lab about 6 weeks in.

ChipJe · Nov 12, 2014

I learned IV starts in my ADN program. At clinicals, the staff nurses would seek us out when an IV needed to be inserted. The patients were really great too. I had a lady that let me try it on her twice, she insisted. I did have one patient with large protruding veins- he was an easy start. I know it will take practice at work to get the knack.

RescueNinjaKy · Nov 12, 2014

IV starts were not taught in my school (asn) program. We were told we would be trained on the job. We did however do iv meds and injections.

Personally I wish they would've taught us how to start an iv. Since they didn't I just ended up you tubing a lot of how to start iv videos.

OwlieO.O · Nov 12, 2014

Yes, it's an integral part of our curriculum. In fact, it's considered a basic standard.

Nonyvole, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2014

We had an IV start lab. Liability and insurance rules meant that we couldn't start them on each other, but we were allowed to start as many as we wanted to in the clinical setting.

And if you came into the program with IV start experience (phlebotomist, paramedic), the instructors hoped that you would help out during that particular lab.

nursemeanie · Nov 12, 2014

None of the programs in my area teach this. It's expected to be learned when orienting.

Beautiful Mind RN · Nov 12, 2014

We learned this in our BSN program. My teachers also made sure we had plenty of practice during clinical as well.