So, we don't learn how to do IVs in nursing school?

MissJulie · Sep 2, 2011

We learn to maintain IVs in the first semester, as well as d/c them.

In the second semester, we learn IVs in lab and then once we've passed the skill exam, we get to do them in clinicals whenever the chance comes.

i<3u · Sep 3, 2011

We learn to maintain IVs in the first semester, as well as d/c them.
In the second semester, we learn IVs in lab and then once we've passed the skill exam, we get to do them in clinicals whenever the chance comes.

Yes, this is what my lab professor told us...that we will learn how to maintain IVs and something about the central line. She said we would have to attend a phlebotomy course to learn all that stuff.

i<3u · Sep 3, 2011

Thank you everyone! I guess every program is different??? We learn injections next month. I don't know why I thought IVs would be learned along with that :confused: . I guess because I don't have any health care experience.

I'm sorry, I just started two weeks ago & everything is kind of all over the place for me. I go into the lab wondering when everything will come together (you know everything we learn in lecture and lab). It's like bits and pieces are coming together but it feels like when I start clinical in almost two weeks, I will be totally confused and I will look as if I haven't learned a thing.

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2011

It felt like half way through the first year things started to make sense. I was caring for a patient with ketoacidosis at the same time we were covering the condition in med-surg lectures and learning to do sub-Q injections (ie: insulin). I purposely started picking patients based on what we were studying in lecture and that really helped.

meltnpointofwax · Sep 3, 2011

we learned how to do IV's on the dummy arms at the end of our first semester. we got to do IV's on real patients staring at the beginning of our second semester.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 3, 2011

When I went to school in the Dark Ages (1982-84), they told us, "You'll never need to insert an IV, because there are IV nurses for that." ,and so they didn't teach us. Guess what--they were right! In 25 years of nursing. I have never had to insert an IV, or draw blood for labs, not that I wouldn't have liked to learn.
Dave Dunn, RN

I met someone the other day who had worked for 37 years and never started an IV and I thought it was crazy. Might not be as uncommon as I thought.

We learned to start IV's on each other in like the first 6 weeks of the first semester and were able to try at any time in any area we worked at. I still to this day love starting IVs

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2011

we have been able to d/c IV's, assess them for SPEND, hang IV meds & IVPB, and just this semster are they allowing us to to IV push meds, but not narcs. We dont actually get to start IV's until next semster... god knows of all the patients i have dealt with in the hsopital they already have them so my chances are going to be slim to none starting them unless we magically get a fresh admit .____.

Its one thing to do 1000 sticks on a dummy arm, but it would be better to do them on a human bc its just different. I don't want to be one of those nurses who have to blow every vein in the arm before i get a good stick IV's should have been the first thing we learned in school in my opinion...

whitn23 · Sep 3, 2011

I have always heard (and firmly believe) that we are in school to learn why you starting the IV, what fluids are you going to run, what should you be looking for while it's running?.... etc. Skills are not the most important part, it's the information behind why we do the skills. :)

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2011

I have always heard (and firmly believe) that we are in school to learn why you starting the IV, what fluids are you going to run, what should you be looking for while it's running?.... etc. Skills are not the most important part, it's the information behind why we do the skills. :)

cant run the fluids if you cant get it in...but then again when in doubt..IO! lol:lol2:

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 3, 2011

Accessing and maintaining a line is one thing... starting it is simply another skill. Most of the time, it's not that difficult to do. Most of the time...

SerenePeach · Sep 3, 2011

We learned how to insert IVs and give injections during the second semester (out of four) in my nursing school. Once we practiced in lab, we were able to use that skill in clinical. I've only had once chance to insert an IV. Some of my classmates haven't had that chance while some have had multiple chances.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2011

We had a little blurb on it at school, like a few hours and practice on a fake man arm. I went home and practiced on my kids. The hospital I am working at the Nurses do their own IV's. They don't have an IV team because they feel it's a skill set that nurses need to have. Not all the times can the IV team get there. Another major hospital in the area uses an IV team.