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

Cola89 · Jan 10, 2016

Whoopsies

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 10, 2016

Some facilities offer the IV certification for RN's & LPN's as a component of orientation especially if a new to practice nurse. If its an extended orientation with skills check off this will likely be included. If they did not require the IV certification as a condition of hire you may not be doing IV insertion or administration on the unit (its possible) or the facility offers in house certification. Just like you had to prove CPR/BCLS and your nursing license credential if the IV cert was required you would know by now.

Roosevelt85 · Jan 11, 2016

Hi if you are a Registered Nurse, you can give IV drugs. If not an RN you can't give Chemo and other drugs. You need to check with your state what you can give if you are a LPN. There are certain drugs only critical care nurses can give IV push. Welcome to the profession of Nursing. :-)

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2016

I'm confused, you are a RN coming off orientation and you have not done any IV's? What about nursing school? And to give medications? You need an order to do that unless you become an advanced practice nurse (i.e. CRNA, DNP). You seem very puzzled about what is basic knowledge for a registered nurse, make sure if you are not ready to come off orientation you request more time.

I too am amazed at how nursing has done a 180 since my days of nursing school. Nurses are coming out of school without ever placing an IV catheter, putting down an NG or inserting a foley cath. We have a BSN program here that is telling the RN's that because of liability reasons, the hospital where clinicals are done, won't allow the student nurses to do anything that invasive on their patients. The are also told that they will get the needed practice once they get a job!!

This is totally different than in the early 80's when we couldn't go forward without performing those skills on someone.