IV starts in nursing schools

[DaynaPierceMorgan]

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

[NYbabyRN, BSN, RN]

I did not learn to do IV starts in my ADN program, nor did we get to practice them in clinicals. I feel that it is a disservice when it is not taught to nursing students; IV starts can be such a necessary nursing skill. I am glad you are trying to have this skill introduced into the curriculum at your university.

[RunBabyRN]

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.

Our instructors were this way, too. I am a former Navy corpsman and phlebotomist, and they had me helping with IVs and sometimes with other skills as well.

[tuxedopenguino]

I really wish we had more IV training in my BSN program in NYC. We learned how to hang IVs and count drip rates, pick the tubing, etc. But we did not learn IV starts or phlebotomy, which would have been nice to learn at least on a practice arm. It would be good to at least get acquainted with the skill while in a lower stress learning environment. I wonder if it's a possibility to get paid volunteers to sign up to be victims of nursing students so they can practice on real people? haha...

[jrost80RNBSN]

One of my instructors offered a 1 credit elective course in IV therapy for senior nursing students where we learned the basics of blood draws, IV starts, accessing ports, and central line dressing changes. We practiced on fake arms and each other (after signing waivers). IV/phlebotomy had not been offered in years prior to that course. It was helpful, but the real training came when I started practice.

That is a great idea for a nursing class!!!! Sadly, my college did not offer that:(

[Surprised1, MSN, RN]

I learned in nursing school a few years ago; first in skills lab and then in clinicals. I started quite a few IVs in regular med-surg clinicals, but my semester in the ED was where I got the most practice.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

There are actually many large and reputable hospitals that have IV teams available 24 hours per day, and the floor nurses are not certified, trained, or allowed by policy to place IVs.

Oh wow...mine has an IV team 24 hrs a day, but if we put in a consult for a PIV they always call and ask how many of us have tried and failed already. Of course there are times when having the expert do it is the right thing for the patient, but they don't want to be the default. Our manager is in agreement also; "You're ICU nurses. You have to be able to start your own IVs."

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

My diploma program did not have us start ivs. However, we spent a lot of time learning about meds that go through an iv. The thinking was the manual skill of starting an iv can be taught on the job and it was more important to learn meds.

I had no problem with this and it was not an issue as a new grad in the er.

[MissCerah]

I graduated in Aug. 2014 and we did have training in starting IV's. I went to LCCTC - Lancaster County Career & Technology Center in Willow Street, Pa.

[Karou]

I did learn in my LVN program. No need in my LVN-ADN bridge since we were all nurses already.

I think the basics should be taught. This is a skill that is difficult to get competent at and the more you practice the better. I think all nurses graduating should be somewhat prepared for doing it on the job.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I graduated from an LVN program in 2005 and an LPN-to-ASN bridge program in 2010. Neither nursing program taught IV starts, venipuncture or cannulation.

Much like TheCommuter, I graduated from an LPN program in 2008 and an LPN to ASN bridge program in 2013 and neither taught anything listed by TheCommuter. It isn't taught in most (if not all) the programs in my area. Its all about liability, the hospitals wouldn't allow students to start IVs or do venipunctures. I wish we were taught it.

[ParvulusPuella]

That rationale is pretty ridiculous - considering that IV teams are not always available in a timely manner.

I agree. They didn't work nights, so we would either call the ICU for an RN or the ER for a tech to come up to put one in. It was one issue that I brought up at every meeting and review.

[PomMom65]

We did not and at the time it seems so very important to me. At my job we start them all the time so I learned quick.