My friend from nursing school recently started her first RN job, and she had a bad third day where all the new grads were testing out on skills. The first skill of the day was starting an IV, all the other girls (ABOUT 30 OF THEM) had all had experience starting IVs from their school. My friend was the only one there who had no experience with it what so ever. They made a spectacle of her like "What school are you from? I can't believe you have never done that before." She was almost in tears. We had never even learned how to tie a turniquet!!!!!!! I must have heard about 8 times during nursing school from various instructors that we will learn from our facility where we work on how to start IVs!!! Did our school lie to us? My friend is very upset and we are feeling inferior to other newcommers. What kind of IV experience do you guys have from school?????
RedSox33RN
1,483 Posts
I'm from NH, and none of the programs here teach it, BSN, ADN or whatever (as someone stated), so I'm going to take a course from the Red Cross. I've had a million started on myself, so I know the technical parts, just haven't done the actual stick! :)
When doing clinical last semester, I overheard an RN who was precepting a new grad, making phone calls to Day Surgery and another units, to see if they had anyone who needed IV's, as the new grad wanted/needed the practice. So it seems the hospitals around here are prepared for new grads that have no IV skills. Two of my instructors confirmed this also, but I do wish it was taught as part of the curriculum.