Ostomy nurses/IV nurses?

medicrnohio, RN · Aug 24, 2005

I interviewed at a hospital that has an IV team. I didn't particularly like the idea because I don't want to lose that skill. I am actually quite good at it, nurses on my floor come to me to start their IV's.

As for wound care, the hospital I'm at does have ET nurses that do some wound and ostomy care. We are responsible for most of it though.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Aug 24, 2005

Hey guys...
NS here and I just finished a clinical round at an instution and I loved it....At this part. hospital they had nurses for everything...Ive never seen anything like it...they have nurses that come to floors just to change dressings and take care of wounds/colostomys etc...and none of the floor RNs start or remover their own IVs, there is an IV nurses that comes and does that for them! I was just wondering if anyone elses facility is like this? As Im thinking where I want to work after grad. this is my number 1 choice right now. The only thing holding me back is that I think in my first year if I dont get more practice at starting IVs and wound care that my skills will fall far under par...thoughts anyone?

I just learned that we have a hospital like that north of where I am currently. I've never heard of such a thing. But just so you know, I never had the chance to start an IV until I started working. It's one of my favorite skills to do. Good luck to you in what ever you choose!

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 24, 2005

I just learned that we have a hospital like that north of where I am currently. I've never heard of such a thing. But just so you know, I never had the chance to start an IV until I started working. It's one of my favorite skills to do. Good luck to you in what ever you choose!

Thanks:) I think that I need to cement those skills before I take a job where I will never use them. It's too bad that is such a great hospital too.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 24, 2005

Wound care nurses usually only work day shift, so if you need changes done on off-shift, you will probably be the one doing them.

JaclynBN05 · Aug 24, 2005

Wound care nurses usually only work day shift, so if you need changes done on off-shift, you will probably be the one doing them.

HI there!! I am actually an IV nurse at the hospital where I work in Canada. We are assigned units and do the central line care as well as the bloods and IV care. There are exceptions. Peds, Cardiac, the ICUS and and L&D do all their own blds and IVs they call us if they are unable to get their own. I love it and we also have an ET nurse. She sees the new ostomy's, gives suggestions so on and so forth, she is also in charge of taking care of all the wonds in the hosp that may need special drsg's or vacs and so on!!

Inserting IVs and drawing blds is a great skill and I am glad that I am doing it. But, because alot of hosps dont have an IV team we have to prove that we are needed and that means alot of research and keeping alot of stats. Each nurse does about 70-80 venipunctures a week!!

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 24, 2005

Wound care nurses usually only work day shift, so if you need changes done on off-shift, you will probably be the one doing them.

That's true. I did hear them say that they only work 9-5. I prob. will end up on a weekend/night shift, atleast i'd like to.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Aug 25, 2005

Hi, I'm a new RN working in a hospital in Mass & we have IV nurses who go around starting IVs & we also have a wound & ostomy certified nurse (WOCN) who I believe works days and some evening hours. Even though we have IV nurses, now my hospital is also offering IV insertion classes for other nurses to take to learn how to put in IVs-I'll be doing that soon too! :)