What license or certificate do I need to insert and give I.V. Drugs?

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Do I need a certificate or license to insert and give Iv drugs? If I enroll in a class what do I need to look for to check if the class or trainer center is official?

I'm a new grad and I'm going to start my orientation soon, I got bothered by this thought.

Thanks!

Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

All you need is the RN license. Your facility's nursing orientation should include a brief demo of their IV catheters / insertion using their start kits. No need for certification or training unless it's some facility-specific policy.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
So i dont need any class to attend to insert and IV?

That may depend on your facility. My facility requires a short course and several witnessed insertions before setting new nurses free to insert IVs. Check the policy with your employer.

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Ohh cool! Thank you so much for the reply!

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Specializes in ER.
That may depend on your facility. My facility requires a short course and several witnessed insertions before setting new nurses free to insert IVs. Check the policy with your employer.

But license wise he could get a job and be able to insert IVs.

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RNS can insert and give IV meds. You don't need an extra certificate for that. Of course make sure you have an MD order for that.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
But license wise he could get a job and be able to insert IVs.

Yes, but if I were to attempt to insert an IV at my facility, I could face disciplinary actions as my facility does not view me as qualified to do so since I haven't taken their course. That is why OP needs to verify with his facility and not an anonymous website. Facilities may not require personnel to go beyond their scope, but neither are they required to allow employees to work fully to their scope without meeting their requirements of extra education. Employer policy may be more restrictive than scope of practice legislation.

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I'm a foreign trained nurse as well. When I started working in the USA I was allowed to site IVs. Persons are happy to let you do them so get as much in as you can. Ask your charge nurses to let you know when there are any blood draws or peripheral iv to be sited. I didn't need any certification.

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Please be careful and check policy and procedures for your workplace. While your license allows you to insert iv and also give medication in general, the way you practice is not only governed by the BON and practice act but also by the facility P&P!

For example I have worked in a major teaching hospital where regular floor nurses were not allowed to just insert PIVs.There was education and witnessed insertion. Usually nurses would go through the process with orientation. Also, while it may be ok to push a certain medication on one floor, it may be not allowed on a different floor (even with MD order) or only under certain circumstance (like with telemetry). While you are in orientation your preceptor should go over those things with you. When in doubt pull up the P&P and consult with the charge nurse/educator/preceptor...

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
Your facility may require specific training or a class for IV insertion but the state does not. I had to take something during orientation and then do 3 sticks with a preceptor.

Three successful sticks. ;)

This is how it was when I transferred to the MICU and needed to learn how to start IVs. We didn't learn that skill in school and I did MedSurg as a new grad - we weren't required to learn IV starts because we had such a large IV team with 24/7 coverage.

Also, there were two separate classes for what was considered "Level B" (i.e. Lopressor) and "Level C" medications (titratable drips, ICU stuff basically).

As far as IV chemo, the hem/onc floor nurses had to be certified. When ICU patients required that chemo be given IV, those nurses had to come give it, or at least spike it and initiate the drip.

Propofol, while we could titrate it up to 80, (I think I remember the okay to go up to 100 on someone) could NOT be given IV push by a nurse unless he was a CRNA.

I'm starting to babble.

Shutting up now. :)

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Specializes in med/surg.

I am an Rn (med-surg) for 20+ years. Each state and some times hospitals have different policies. On a general unit the rn can give most meds. On orientation (at the hospitals in the us) that I have worked, there was a class for all nurses new and old to practice. Make sure to get as much experience as you can starting IV's on orientation. Ask your preceptor. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.

In NJ there is an IV certificate that is required. It is about 8/12 CEUs.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
In NJ there is an IV certificate that is required. It is about 8/12 CEUs.

Yes, I was looking at some NJ jobs and many said IV certification required.

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