Psychology degree and IVs??

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Dec 17, 2010

Anyone can learn to start an iv. Starting an iv on a patient requires a physicians order to a person authorised to start iv's in that setting. From your post it sounds like you're confusing someone teaching how to start an iv with the actual credentials to start iv's.

I have the knowledge of how to remove an appendix. That doesn't mean I'm allowed to do so.

AntMarchingRN, RN · Dec 17, 2010

before i became a nurse i had a bachelors in psych. i got my first job out of college in an er as a psych tech (actually what made we want to be a nurse)

anyway, when i started there i had no clinical experience. while there i learned phlebotomy, specimen collection, vitals, ekgs, foleys, etc and eventually was certified in ivs. i think that this differs not only from state to state but floor to floor. i know floor techs were not able to do some of these things.

**please note - certifications i got were all taken in separate courses offered by my hospital. no one ever just "let me try" that’s what sounds fishy about the story to me....

nsu_demon · Dec 17, 2010

No, I completely understand the difference. I just completed my 1st level of nursing school, so I do understand that perspective. My problem is the fact that this person claims that she is going to school to get her psychology degree and that she is required to start IVs as a pshychologist, which is not true. She claims that on her first day ( still only having an associate in psychology) that a nurse let her start an IV on her. Everyone I have talked to has told me that a psychologist, even in their training have no need to learn to start an IV. My worry is that she is confusing her training with that of a potential psychiatrist. She doesn't have any knowledge or schooling on dosage calc, etc, so it is confusing as to why she is learning IVs if she's only going to be a psychologist. On top of all that, she cheated her way through an online course to get that assosicate in psychology.

AntMarchingRN, RN · Dec 17, 2010

you're correct there; a psychologist has no need to start ivs.

also to be a psychologist requires a doctorate degree (phd or psyd) not an associates and a psychiatrist is a md with a specialty. she seems like she may be over stating her qualifications either because she doesn’t have the knowledge or she just wants to sound better.

what may be true is that a nurse may have let her start an iv on her hand (or at least insert the cath) that happens a lot when it’s slow or people think they are helping others learn. the sad thing is the nurse is risking herself. 2 nurses at my last hospital got fired for the same sort of thing...wasting supplies, risking patients seeing unlicensed professionals perform clinical things etc.

nsu_demon · Dec 17, 2010

Do you think there is a need to report her or am I overreacting? She has no background what-so-ever on what she's doing.

creece15 · Dec 17, 2010

That is really strange. Even with an Associate degree...how could she be in grad school (training to be a psych.)

I def would report it just to a.) satisfy yourself b.) to protect anyone that this woman is going to "try" on in the future!

But yeah I def. just think she is trying to impress you..hopefully that is it!

Keep us updated on how it turns out!

nsu_demon · Dec 17, 2010

Thanks to everyone who responded! I hope she's just lying and not doing what she's claiming. That would be a disaster!

j621d · Dec 17, 2010

You probably do have valid concerns, but it is based on hearsay. If you report something, you better be able to back it with facts.

Emergency RN · Dec 17, 2010

listen, many people 'claim' a lot of things for various reasons (ego being near top of that list); some claim to have even seen elvis. my suggestion? just nod, smile, and slowly walk away.

and a note to op: please don't double post. it really makes a board messy and hard to follow... :uhoh3:

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2010

So, I have a random question.... I have a friend and her cousin is claiming that she is learning to give IVs when she only has an associates degree in psychology, not psychiatry. I was in shock because psychologists even in training don't give IVs, correct ? She said it was her first day and that a "nurse" let her practice starting an IV. I was speechless. I was worried for any potential patients because I had my friend ask her if she knew anything about drug calc or drop factors, etc and her cousin answered " Oh, yeah I think they mentioned something like that." Am I losing my mind or is this insane ? I don't like calling anyone a liar, but it seems very fishy to me...Any input is appreciated because I don't think this girl has any business around patients period. It seems to me that she is either lying, but what is scarier is the fact that she admitted that she has cheated her way through her online degree and now she is in some sort of program to be a psychologist, while allegedly starting IVs!

A psychologist has a PhD in Clinical Psychology or other doctorate-level psychology discipline.

A psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor (MD) who has completed a residency in psychiatry.

NEITHER profession is available as an associate's degree.

Yes, she is a liar because no one is going to let her start an IV unless she is in a nursing program.