IV starts

PlanetCaroline · Aug 24, 2003

You guys rock. Thanks for the encouragement. Keep the stories coming if you have them.

---

Caroline

Martibear · Aug 24, 2003

I'm a nursing student graduating in May 2004 & we learned in our lab & then were signed off on it & if we had the opportunity on the floor we could do it. I started my first one in nursing II. I will be in nursing IV this fall & we will have alot of opportunity during our rotation in the ED.

zambezi, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2003

We learned IV starts the second sememster of our two year program. Our school encouraged us to get as many as we could as students. The hosptial that I work at also had a little IV practice per hospital policy during our orientation but it seemed like we were pretty much expected to know how to start them, though I am sure that if it had never been covered they would spend more time as needed.

kimmicoobug · Aug 26, 2003

I am not very good at starting them yet, but I always jump at the chance to do it. Although, the other night I was kind of frustrated that my patient needed a new start. He needed a 2400 abx, and he was a very hard start. Took six tries, that one did...

babynurse32 · Aug 27, 2003

We learned to start IV's in our last rotation. I was able to attempt two starts on the floor. I was lucky, most of my classmates did not ever get to try. When I started my job, I followed our IV therapy nurse for the day. She took me to the med surg floor and let me do nothing but IV starts. She had me do one on her first and gave me all kinds of hints. I have gotten alot better, and have only missed one since. I even got two starts on a newborn. It just comes with practice.

Dave ARNP · Oct 1, 2003

Didn't see a needle until I got to my MSN/NP. Then they suddenly expected me to be awesome at starts and draws.

They gave me one to do, and I asked where the phone was to call lab/IV team for them to come and do it?

Needless to say I got to spend a week in Outpatient surgery, doing nothing but this.

Now.... I can get blood from rocks, and start a line on a Barbie Doll.

David Adams, ARNP

-ACNP, FNP

Rena RN 2003, RN · Oct 1, 2003

we had an IV lab that consisted of about an hour just showing us the product and giving us the chance go practice on a fake arm. when we were in clinical, we could do as many IVs as were needed as long as the instructor was there for the first one to make sure we were using the correct procedure. i probably started 15-20 that quarter in clinical alone. in my last quarter, during mentorship in the ED, i lost count of the number after 58. for me (even now), i love starting IVs. something about poking a needle into a tough stick....... :chuckle

NYCRN16 · Oct 1, 2003

We were not allowed to start IV's in school or on our internships either (from what we were told its a hospital liability or state law or something) that we were not allowed to do this. So, here I was graduated from school hired in the ED, and never started an IV in my life. Basically we went over the theory in school and in general orientation, but that does nothing for you until you do it yourself. In my opinion, finding the vein when you cant see it is the hardest part. If you can find the vein, and the direction its going when you cant even see it there (but you feel it...sort of) than you have won half the battle. I have missed many a tries, but I just keep on practicing. In the hospitals today (especially in ED) you are getting patients who are old, frail and dehydrated and its very difficult to get a line on someone like that. Sometimes you just cant do it and they need a central line. Just keep practicing. Any job you go for is not going to turn you down because you cant start an IV, they feel that its just a skill that takes practice, its your nursing knowledge and judgement that matter. Good luck and keep trying!

TinyNurse, RN · Oct 16, 2003

heck, don't even worry about it, I did only 2 IV starts during school. Now I work in the ER and have done a ton in my first 3 months. The real experience starts after graduation, i know you can do it, don't worry.

also if your school doesn't offer models or anything, ask for angiois and try on family and friends.

xoxo Jen

Chrislynn2003 · Oct 16, 2003

I am starting out in the OR as a new grad. I never learned IV's in school, but most people in my state learn on the job, which i think is better. Thanks to the CRNA's or anesthesiologists, nurses don't start IV's in the OR. But don't worry, you will learn while at work and be able to practice during orientation. Good luck!

K8RN · Oct 20, 2003

I didn't learn in school either. Did phlebotomy as part of my orientation. At the hospital I work at, we do our own bloodwork, but the IV team does all the starts unless you have been previously certified to do starts. I'd like to learn, but the hospital won't teach us new RN's IV starts.

kbstudent · Oct 24, 2003

We learned in school in our maternity rotation. We started off my doing a butterfly on a fake arm and then we did it on each other. My partner and I have stuck each other a couple of times. We are encouraged to do them in clinicals. In fact I did my first one on a "real"patient yesterday during clinicals. Got in on the first try. Was all thumbs after that, but my RN and the patient were great. Now I am ready for more.