IV starts

Soldiersnurse · Aug 22, 2003

Not many nursing schools teach how to initiate IV therapy. It would be a helpful skill, but all of the hospitals and clinics where I have worked have classes and will be happy to teach you. It shouldn't be something that would prevent you from getting a job.

New CCU RN · Aug 22, 2003

We didn't learn the actual starts in school....... learned that during orientation...... you should be fine, no worries.

New CCU RN · Aug 22, 2003

PS One thing that was a great help for me was that I worked as a tech for a year before becoming an RN, I was doing blood draws (no IV s though) on babies to adults. Although starting an IV is harder than a blood draw it teaches you how to look for veins and get used to the whole feel of it!

fourbirds4me · Aug 22, 2003

We learned in school. RN programs in this state are required to have this as part of their curriculum. Some LPN programs have it too.

I will say that although we were taught this in school.... we really only got like one stick or so and maybe a couple in clinicals. I have started 3 in the 2 weeks I have been orienting to the floor.

nadia562002 · Aug 23, 2003

When I started nursing school, I honestly thought I would be skillful by the time I finished school. TUrns out that I only got to do maybe a couple of IV starts. At my new job as an RN, we learn by doing. I have been doing phlebotomy lately with lots of success. Did one IV but let the experienced nurse do the digging for the vein.

pixiel · Aug 23, 2003

We didn't get to learn in school either. After I graduated there were two days where I went in for half a day and did blood draws and placed IV's. It just takes practice!

nekhismom · Aug 23, 2003

We are required to learn it in school. We had one practice day in the lab to stick a fake arm, and then the next lab day we had to stick our partner. It was pretty scary to know that the person you were letting stick you was just as inexperienced as you were!! But, all in all, it turned out fine. We don't do any blood draws in school, though. I don't know how many of you learn that in school?? We learned how to located a vein, but it is still difficult. THe only IV's I've done so far were in clinicals... all 3 of them. Even then, I only entered the cathlon. I have never hung a bag of fluids or connected the fluids to the actual IV cathlon. SO, I guess you could say I half-way learned about IV's???

RNonsense · Aug 23, 2003

Didn't learn it in school. Now the hospital I'm at has an IV team, so none of us do it. These gals are great...they average 25+ per shift, so they're goooooooood.

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 23, 2003

I learned in school...but I only had the opportunity to start one on the floor. We had a 4-wk ambulatory care rotation and some of my classmates chose an outpatient surgery center where they got tons of practice.

During my job orientation we reviewed IV's again. The only way to get the experience once you get out there is to let your co-workers know you want it!!!! I have been orienting for 6 weeks now and I start almost everybodies IV's!!!

Good luck!

Gator,SN · Aug 23, 2003

My school did not allow us to start IV's either. When I started working I listed this skill as one of my top goals for the first month. My preceptor agreed and let me practice on her and she started one on me.

Next, sent me to day surgery for for a week where I did nothing but start IVs. I was really nervous at first but I'm getting better. I drew my first ABGs last week too. The hard part for me is trying to tape with gloves on. I still make a big mess.

Everyone says that you can also have a 'dryspell' where no matter what you do you can't hit the broad side of a barn, no matter how good you are at it.

Good luck Caroline!

Gator

cwazycwissyRN, RN · Aug 23, 2003

when I was an LPN I took an IV certification course that was awesome. I do not know if they still have those type courses around.

One thing the course stressed, was to not think you are a good nurse because you have "a good stick". What makes a nurse a good nurse is when you know the fluids you are putting in the IV and how they affect your patients. An IV sticks potential to kill a patient is pretty low. The fluids/drugs you put into it can have life threating consequences if an error is made.