IV starts?

Hello All!

So I am graduating a nursing program in New York next week and my boss wants me to start IV's once I graduate. In nursing school, starting IV's and venipuncture wasn't a skill we covered, but IV piggybacks and IV pushes were. We were told that the facilities that we would be working at would teach us how to start an IV. Well I work in a doctor's office and I don't know what the scope of practice is or if there are any state laws regarding starting IV's?Does anyone have any information for me? Thanks!!

In CA, RN starts IV and I believe NY has equal/higher scope of practice. You can sign up for IV certification class if u're not confident. This is the skill that comes with practice/ experience. U can also ask another RN to help if it's a hard stick/ rolling vein. At my hospital, we have IV team to start IV of RNs on the unit can't or think it's a hard stick. Hope it helps!

Most hospitals do have IV certification for new employees. However, since you aren't in a hospital, your dr office might not have one. As an RN, you are licensed to do venipunctures. It is your responsibility to make sure you know how to do this skill before performing it on a patient. Ask your boss if there is a class at an affliated hospital that he/she can recommend or ask an experienced RN to give you some lessons.