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

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

I'm in a 2.5 year BSN program and we learn to start IVs in the first semester with all the other skills.

We are not allowed to practice on each other for anything invasive.

[Fiona59]

My health authority requires all new hire nurses to take a class with a CNE and have three witnessed starts before being certified to start IVs independently. You can be a new grad or have decades of experience, you take the course.

The reasoning is, everyone is expected to use the same technique and bad habits can be eliminated.

Doesn't matter if I move to a hospital across the street, I still have to be certified at that site.

Got to keep those CNE's occupied and out of trouble!

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

I was never taught in LPN school, but that was a long time ago. In LPN school was actually told, "do not touch or even breathe on anything IV." In my BSN program, we practiced on fake arms which I think is close to useless. And I'm not understanding this whole "liability" issue. What on Earth makes placing PIVs so seriously dangerous?? We pushed IV meds, etc. in clinicals, but weren't able to start PIVs?

[Nibbles1]

We did at my LPN program. We practiced on each other. Our instructor had a theme week. It was called Wild about IV's. We wore animal print clothes and on the last day , she catered our lunch. Best week of nursing school.

[nursing_student33]

In my LPN program IV therapy is apart of the the curriculum. Up until I believe 2009, it never was mandatory for LPN's then the NPA changed it saying it's no longer optional. I would have area's of concern/questioning to your program Director as to why you are not being IV certified, especially if it's for your RN/BSN. Good luck!

[arose93]

We learned to start IVs on the IV arms and hands my school had. We were only allowed to try IVs on pts under strict watch of our clinical instructor and only if they felt comfortable with it. Many of us never poked a real patient, only the mannequin arms.

[Katniss88]

The ADN program I graduated from in 2013 teaches IV starts in skills lab using artificial arms. The purpose was to show you the technique because it's nowhere near the same as starting IV's in a real arm. I have heard that nursing schools used to teach students how to start IV's by letting the students practice on each other. I think that's the best way, but I'm glad my school didn't allow it, because I don't want to be stuck a million times. During clinicals you do not get very many opportunities to start IV's and it's a skill that most certainly takes practice. One clinical instructor tried to suggest to me that maybe I need to go back to the skills lab, so I told her that the skills lab only teaches the technique, is does not teach you or provides any practice in successfully starting an IV.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Here in Michigan it was a liability issue and we were not taught how to start IV's or do blood draws in nursing school. It was strictly on the job training.

[Katniss88]

Here in Michigan it was a liability issue and we were not taught how to start IV's or do blood draws in nursing school. It was strictly on the job training.

Most hospitals where I am from expect new grads to have all the essential skills when they start working as a nurse. IV starts are part of the nursing skills and it should be at least taught in a skills lab in school. When we actually got to try an IV start in clinical it was ALWAYS with an instructor at the bedside.

[Calinurse4]

We did them in the 3rd semester of my ADN program. We started on fake arms, then our check-off was on another student. After that, we were allowed to do them in clinical for the remainder of the 3rd and 4th semester. By graduation, I was pretty comfortable with inserting them.

[mrsboots87]

I a block 2 student and we had IV lecture and skills lab the second day of block 2. Then we practiced in class for two more lab days. And then had a heavily weighted (grade wise) check off following that. And we have all been practicing them in clinical when they are available. My clinical is at a facility that changes IVs only as needed so they don't come up often, but they are usually offered to students unless the patient is a hard stick or only has one useable arm. Just from a learning perspective, I can't imagine not learning this in school since it's not exactly an easy skill.

[studentnursemon86]

We used fake arms. Thankfully, I have phlebotomy experience.