When do we learn how to start an iv

sbyramRN · Jan 30, 2009

WHAT! We were doing IV's on each other week six of first semester. That class period was so much fun, but I lost lots of blood ha ha

I would have dropped out of nursing school before letting a class mate start an IV on me! We learned on mannequins our first semester, and when we started Med Surg 1 the second semester, we were checked off on ALL skills and were able to do everything except hang blood or blood products.

cokeforbreakfast · Jan 30, 2009

One of my instructors told me that when she was in nursing school they had to do NG tubes on eachother. UGH!

We start IV's senior year, but do push meds, locks, tube changes, etc., early on.

Thanks for the interesting thread!

VampRN · Jan 30, 2009

ok wow this thread really makes me glad i picked my school. Ive done foleys, trach care, ng tubes, iv starts/pushes/bags everything, injections, wound care and several other things in the first semester alone! I cant believe you can go through school without doing these things. I know and fully understand each place has its own procedure but that is such a cop out answer. Every centers policy/procedure is different for everything in nursing. A lot of the stuff we learn is different at the clinical site we go to. It seems like a real tragedy you dont get to do these things while going through school.

you are absolutely right!!! I'm so upset just thinking about all i have missed already! No wonder very few hospitals hire new grads around here!

sbyramRN · Jan 30, 2009

you are absolutely right!!! I'm so upset just thinking about all i have missed already! No wonder very few hospitals hire new grads around here!

Well, our director in NS always told us a monkey could learn the skills and that nursing school was to learn the critical thinking skills...the physical skills would come with job training. I don't think most employers expect a new grad to be proficient in their nursing skills. I think they want someone with good assessment skills and the ability to think out of the box.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jan 31, 2009

I would have dropped out of nursing school before letting a class mate start an IV on me! We learned on mannequins our first semester, and when we started Med Surg 1 the second semester, we were checked off on ALL skills and were able to do everything except hang blood or blood products.

It really wasnt too bad. You have to learn somehow. I was the guinea pig too cause I have good veins so for their first stick I let them practice on me. Plus knowing how much it sucks and hurts to get it done makes me realize that I dont want to screw up when giving these to my patients. Just from practice alone on real people it makes you better. While I agree with what somene else said how the critical thinking part is imortant, the skills really is too. I know the first time i had an IV on me the person didnt push hard enough to get the needle in so they were sitting there just poking me afraid to go in deeper. I know if I was a pt with that experience I would not be so happy or trusting of the nurse.

LoneWolfRN2010 · Feb 2, 2009

We did IV's almost straight out of the gate first semester....first skill was PPE and std precautions, next was IV's, then foley's, now(second semester)we're doing blood transfusions, IV push, BSE and TSE, trach care and NG tubes

Wow! You're getting to do a lot more than us! We had the intro semester, which was just into to Nrusing adn into to Pharm. This semester so far we've done PPE, Standard precautions, bed baths, transfers, and nwo we are doing medication administration (which we've spent 3 weeks on! Ugh!)

LoneWolfRN2010 · Feb 2, 2009

One of my instructors told me that when she was in nursing school they had to do NG tubes on eachother. UGH!
We start IV's senior year, but do push meds, locks, tube changes, etc., early on.
Thanks for the interesting thread!

OMG, i am NOT letting anyone put an NG tube in me! LOL. Isn't that what schools spend thousands of dollars on mannequins for?? We have one that they tell us cost more than most cars! He's supposed to be able to simulate most everything, i guess

Byaggha · Feb 2, 2009

OMG, i am NOT letting anyone put an NG tube in me! LOL. Isn't that what schools spend thousands of dollars on mannequins for?? We have one that they tell us cost more than most cars! He's supposed to be able to simulate most everything, i guess

Sim man! We've got two; I consider them my babies (even though I'm only a nursing 2 student) - I got to do the hookup and test of them when the school moved the nursing lab down a floor. So much fun!

You can even get them to yell at whoever's assessing them, and tell them they want another nurse. It's a riot!

LoneWolfRN2010 · Feb 11, 2009

OMG that's hysterical! We haven't really used Sim Man yet, so I didn't realize you could make him yell! LOL. We also have "the Shim" which is a mannequin that has a member, but also breasts, LOL.

ErinJane · Feb 11, 2009

We started them first semester on each other. Now I am in third semester at I can start them on patients at the hospital, and push IV meds. I don't understand why they won't allow you to do this?

When are you responsible for total care (assessments, meds, vitals, BGs, interventions) for a patient?

VampRN · Feb 12, 2009

Well... I spoke to my clinical instructor and we will not be learning how to start an IV, or do IV flushes while in Nursing school!!!! We have to wait until we graduate.. according to her it is illegal in the state of New York! This really sucks I was looking fwd to learning that this semester.

mb1949 · Feb 12, 2009

That's correct in NYS you cannot start an IV without a License, not even on your professors license, however we are allow to hang Piggy Back and IV fluids and flush the lines as long as there is a patent line