New gradute practical nurse starting IV's

Specialties PACU

Published

One of the nurse managers wants to train a graduate practical nurse to start IV's in our pre-op area. She supposedly is "an excellent phlebotomist and has had 30 hours of didactic class". We do a variety of cases in our hospital excluding brain, open heart and OB. Any thoughts on this? Thanks for the input in advance.

Specializes in Tele, CCU, MICU, PACU.

Peripheral IV's? If it is just the basic pre-op IV start I don't see the big deal. If LPN's doing that is within the scope of practice for your state then great.

I started out as an LPN and if you took the IV class and had 3 successful sticks then they let you do IVs where I worked. There were some limitations, no hanging of IV meds, no hanging of blood but you could monitor the patient receiving the above.....

Specializes in LTC, Subacute Rehab.

I'm in California, but an IV-certified LVN can start IVs, hang blood, hang fluids - just no IV piggybacks or IVP meds.

I'm in California but an IV-certified LVN can start IVs, hang blood, hang fluids - just no IV piggybacks or IVP meds.[/quote']

Sara, I am in Calif as well. Can LVN's hang an IV bag such as D51/2 + 40meq KcL?

How about Albumin?

I am an RN but I never heard consensus on this one.

Thanks

I would welcome any LVN in the pre-op area to start IV's although then my skills would go to heck.:specs:

If it's within the scope of practice what would be the problem?

Opps, I thought you were from CA, sorry I don't know anything about FL.

One of the nurse managers wants to train a graduate practical nurse to start IV's in our pre-op area. She supposedly is "an excellent phlebotomist and has had 30 hours of didactic class". We do a variety of cases in our hospital excluding brain, open heart and OB. Any thoughts on this? Thanks for the input in advance.
If it's within the scope of practice what would be the problem?

Opps, I thought you were from CA, sorry I don't know anything about FL.

It's just a peripheral IV, our techs can do them on our unit.

Specializes in critical care and LTC.

There is such a thing as knowledge skill and ability as long as it is within your scope of practice. I think if she has been properly taught and is just inserting a PIV then she should be ok.

+ Add a Comment