Students Drawing Blood/Inserting IVS in MD?

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I recently read that nursing students in Maryland are not allowed to draw blood or start IV's... Is this true?

If so, when are these skills learned?

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Specializes in PICU, Peds Ambulatory, Peds LTC.

It's also true in New York City (I think)... We (my school) were never taught how to insert IV's or withdraw blood. I guess you learn these skills when you start your orientation at the hospital you work in.

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Specializes in Adult Med-Surg, Rehab, and Ambulatory Care.

We don't do it in New Jersey either; at least, my school doesn't. Or else I haven't gotten to that yet (one more semester to go).

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It was left to the instructor to decide in my NY school, occasionally she'd let a seasoned lpn or paramedic.

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WE weren't in LPN school either. We had IV training and had to pass a skill test, but weren't allowed on patients.

I have since taken IV therapy training and have done 1 IV, but have yet to draw blood.

I hope to learn these skills when I go back!

(I'm in Indiana.)

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Specializes in Adult M/S.

In Colorado (at the hospital I'm doing my med/surg 1) we're not allowed to draw blood from a central line. We can start Iv's, flush peripheral and central lines, give meds (except pressors), push meds., etc. This is probbly a hospital based policy.

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I was that poster, GoodyNurse. Unfortunately it's true. If you have a good preceptor who will teach you during your senior practicum, you can learn it then, or you will have to learn how at your first job after school. Sounds crazy, doesn't it??

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

We did blood draws on each other in the medical assistant program, and gave injections to each other. I do not know about the ADN program yet.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

I got to learn how to do blood draws as a med/surg tech. Depending on our preceptors, we don't do IV's or blood draws until 4th semester. I'll bet some students never get to.

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During our clinicals, we are allowed to do anything and everything a nurse might do. that includes starting iv's, drawing blood, drawing blood through a central line, CIV dressing changes, etc., etc.

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Well I'm sorry I am not answering the question that began this thread, and I hope I am not going against any message board regulations but I was so happy to read these responses. Ok I know drawing blood should be something we are taught, but I gotta tell you before I read this thread I pretty much thought my first month of school would be sticking needles in people for IVs or drawing samples! I figured by semester 3 I would at least be doing sutures? no? yes? anyone?

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Specializes in PICU, Peds Ambulatory, Peds LTC.
Well I'm sorry I am not answering the question that began this thread, and I hope I am not going against any message board regulations but I was so happy to read these responses. Ok I know drawing blood should be something we are taught, but I gotta tell you before I read this thread I pretty much thought my first month of school would be sticking needles in people for IVs or drawing samples! I figured by semester 3 I would at least be doing sutures? no? yes? anyone?

SUTURES???? NO NO NO. I THINK NP'S DO THAT OTHERWISE NURSES DON'T DO SUTURES. (WISH THEY DID) :rolleyes: MD'S DO THAT SORT OF STUFF.

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