Nursing school not teaching IVs

MissJoRN, RN · Jan 21, 2006

For what it's worth that seems common in eastern PA- hospitals don't expect students to have IV experience and have ggod programs once your hired on to train you to start IVs. You'll have classroom orientation then the chance to practice starts in a busy part of the hospital- outpatient clinic, IV center, or OR holding for instance then will certify you to start IVs in that facility. Many hospitals will require you to have had a minimum number of starts anually to maintain your "certification"

RaggedyRN · Jan 22, 2006

I feel your frustration. I am a recent Eastern PA grad. I was offered many positions upon graduation and the lack of IV skills was not an issue. The hospital where I work has a training course. ALL new employees must take the course. You must have three successful sticks with suppervision then you are "certified". I know it is easier said than done but try not to worry about it:) It's not as scary as I thought it was going to be...I love starting IV's now

Good Luck to you!

Cheekeyo · Jan 22, 2006

I'm scheduled to graduate in this May. My school isn't teaching us IVs or drawing blood. I'd like to take a certification course before I'm thrown to the wolves. Can anyone suggest a program? I live just outside of Philadelphia. Any input would be appreciated!!!

Monica - I am not sure about IV Cert. in your area, I do know here in MA they are hard to come by. I am presently looking for Cert course myself, Boston College has one - I was signed up, but they just recently postponed their classes to March and April ""BIG DISAPPIONTMENT""!!

If anyone out there knows of any cert classes for IV and Central lines in the MA area please let me know.

Monica, I will see if I can search out on the web for you.

Have a wonderful day,

Sunny

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 22, 2006

try this link for iv certification courses:

http://www.nflpn.org/certification.html

truern · Jan 22, 2006

I'm in my last semester.....we've already had a lab in starting IVs and we're going to spend at least one day in the ED doing nothing but IVs and blood draws. We lucked up with a GREAT clinical instructor that looks for learning opportunities for us :mad:

kjnorris · Jan 22, 2006

I don't understand why your schools are not doing this it is so simple to get alot of practice with surgery centers and staging units my school set up a day for each student to spend training. We were given the instruction not to tell any one it our first time but do your best two try's and hand it off if you don't get it. We also do an iv poster day that the seniors teach first through third semesters about iv therapy. We are taught in labs how to do them and given the opportunity to practice.

Cheekeyo · Jan 23, 2006

try this link for iv certification courses:
http://www.nflpn.org/certification.html

hi sari,

thank you for the info on iv therapy certification, i greatly appreciate it. i emailed them to find out more about their organization, i am thinking maybe nflpn website is mainly for lpn's maybe not, soon find out.

take care and be well

sunny

Cheekeyo · Jan 23, 2006

I feel your frustration. I am a recent Eastern PA grad. I was offered many positions upon graduation and the lack of IV skills was not an issue. The hospital where I work has a training course. ALL new employees must take the course. You must have three successful sticks with suppervision then you are "certified". I know it is easier said than done but try not to worry about it:) It's not as scary as I thought it was going to be...I love starting IV's now
Good Luck to you!

Hi Chickey

The first hospital I worked at I was fortunate have a full day in pre-op inserting IV's but never rec'd a cert. for all my great sticks haha.

I am looking for certification for IV therapy and Central Lines, I want to be on the IV Team a couple days of the week or work for an IV Agency a couple days a week.

Take Care

Sunny

allenmob · Jan 23, 2006

Classes don't teach you to start IV's... experience does. Get out there with your new job, find a mentor and keep trying. Your confindence level will increase each time. If you miss one, it's not the end of the world.

Cheekeyo · Jan 23, 2006

Classes don't teach you to start IV's... experience does. Get out there with your new job, find a mentor and keep trying. Your confindence level will increase each time. If you miss one, it's not the end of the world.

:) Thank you for the feed back.

Have a great Day,

Sunny

Jasano · Jan 26, 2006

I'm scheduled to graduate in this May. My school isn't teaching us IVs or drawing blood. I'd like to take a certification course before I'm thrown to the wolves. Can anyone suggest a program? I live just outside of Philadelphia. Any input would be appreciated!!!

It's the same thing here in Ontario (Canada) and I would expect increasingly so around the world. Nursing is turning away from skill focused abilities and medical knowledge as a whole. It is extremely unfortunate that nursing appears to be moving in such a disasterous direction, but there you have it.

I received no IV training whatsoever in my BScN program, and having graduated, am expected to do them at my place of employment - the trouble is, I've never had to do anything more difficult in my life! I just don't get it at all, and I really wish I had had some training as part of my degree program. Looking around now, I am unable to find ANY programs in my area that still teach IV therapy - these programs are all being discontinued province wide.

I wish you luck in finding a program, and highly reccommend you take one prior to being "thrown to the wolves" - if you can find one. I may have to take a week off and go stateside in order to pick up such training.