Not learning IV starts

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Apr 24, 2013

Is it because your school actually does not allow you to start IVs or is it because patients generally refuse students when it comes to starting their IVs?

I remember when I was in school, we were taught how to start IVs in our geriatric med-surg rotation. I never really had the opportunity to start one in school, however. Sometimes the opportunities just never present themselves, no matter how hard you try.

EDRN1091 · Apr 24, 2013

my program (private college in CT) does not allow us to start IVs. my senior capstone is in ED psych/crisis and we don't even use lines but the nurses wanted to teach me to do sticks with a butterfly, but I preferred to just observe and wait until I was employed to be taught. the hospitals prefer to teach us as new grads, at least that's what I've heard.

Mnstn, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2013

My school does not allow us and we are not taught at all. If we get the opportunity in our capstone course it is because the unit we are on is willing to teach us.

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Apr 25, 2013

I started an IV during my first semester of nursing school. I probably started about 50 by the time I graduated from nursing school between clinical and an externship. I can't imagine not being allowed. I also practiced on myself when I got my IV kit in school. I'm pretty sure IV starts are one of my favorite parts of nursing.

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2013

By the time I reached my senior capstone I had done about 30. In a busy level 2 ER, I did we'll over 100. How can you NOT???? I have heard managers complain about new grads not knowing "basic skills such as IVs"

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

thatoneguyRN · Sep 19, 2013

My BSN program in Portland, OR did not, and the reason cited was litigation concerns...which seems silly to me but there it is.

It is an issue, as it can be seen as one of the big tasks and cause for some stress if you have not had the time to get sticks in school or a clinical rotation. But that being said my experience is don't worry once your on the floor and get your feet under you then just make time to start IV's if you pt needs one or someone elses does go and try once. Find out the nurses who are good at starting IV's and have them walk you through it. Also if you can get into an ED or ICU if that is what floats your boat your will have many, many opportunities to stick people as we do all our own sticks usually. Also it really depends on where you're at, if you're working in surgical units your patients are going to be all lined up and you will have more access than you know what to do with and even if you have started a bunch of IV's in the past you will get rusty as you will not be using the skill as much. And in most cases unless you are in the ICU or the ED there are IV teams in many hospitals that will come and start IVs for you as you will be busy as hell with all the other patient care and medication passes stuff. This is not an excuse to learn! I would still advocate getting this skill down. However in my humble opinion its just that, a skill, and you will get it with practice and unless you are in an unit that is doing a lot of them as is the case in an ED, its not as big a deal as you might think because of reasons stated above, plenty of access, IV teams, ect. Plus if you are in a unit that starts a bunch of IV's you will be a pro in no time.

I started zero IV's in school and am now someone who people go to for hard sticks, and all I did was make time to try and start them. I am now I am pretty good--I wouldn't sweat it :yes: .

Jenngirl34RN · Sep 26, 2013

What school do you go to? We will be learning IVs in our school, but whether or not we are allowed to do them in clinicals is entirely up to the facility we are placed in- some allow students to them and some don't.