"You won't be IV certified..."

[nodaknursey701]

A few nurses that I work with have mentioned that my LPN program, which is 2 core semesters starting in a few weeks, won't make me eligible to be "IV certified." I am not too worried because I plan to go right into an LPN to BSN bridge program as soon as I graduate next May, but what does this mean for my LPN job prospects? I plan to work as an LPN while obtaining my RN license. I understand most hospitals don't hire LPN's anymore but the skilled nursing facility I currently work at does and needs nurses, so that's where I most likely will stay. I'm just wondering how some LPNs are able to start IVs and some are not, and how you become "IV certified" specifically. :/

[Norubit15, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Go to your State's board of nursing website, there may be a link on I.V. Certification. Many schools offer I.V. Certification courses as stand alone for those not presently certified. I work with a nurse whose college did not offer it for their PN's so she took the course later. Hope this helps!

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

That's the way it is where I live. But then facilities can impose their own rules. In a previous place of employment, LPN's were not allowed to TOUCH an IV. No starting, flushing, hanging products or discontinuing them. The corporation has buildings in several states and rather than write policies for different laws, it was an across the board policy that they couldn't have anything to do with them. No blood draws either.

I do a PRN type of position in a different facility now and all IV starts and draws are done by RN's there too.[

QUOTE=NurseEmmy;8640772]Not every state requires you to be "certified". In many states you are not allowed to do IV pushes of certain medications, hang blood, etc (certified or not). This does not mean you cannot initiate an IV, run IV medication, or assess an IV site without being certified. Review you Nurse Practice Act/speak with BON staff regarding this.