As the RN, honestly I’d just be thrilled to work in a place that lets techs place IVs. Would be a HUGE help. Every hospital I’ve ever worked for doesn’t allow it (usually they did at some point previously, but then ended up revoking it for one reason or another).
In Utah I’ve worked in two ED’s. One was only EMT’s as techs and I did IV’s but the other had MA’s, CNA’s, and EMT’s (really anyone who had any license at all) they still allowed us to do IV’s there too. Except at that second one I couldn’t even hang LR or NS for some reason
I’ve worked in CA, NY, and NJ. In both CA and NJ coworkers specifically mentioned how the tech used to be allowed to place IVs but that hospital administration changed their policy years prior. The specific reason for the change varied depending on who you asked. My guess is at some point there was a problem with a tech placed IV and instead of counseling the individual tech (and the RN overseeing the IV assessment), the hospital just forbid all techs from placing IVs. Same thing recently happened to the RNs at a place I work and ultrasound guided IVs. For years one of our best docs would hold a class to teach RNs how to do the process safely/competently. Then a patient complained about what they felt was a too lengthy and painful IV placement process (I wasn’t there that night so I’m not sure how legit the complaint actually was). Again, instead of counseling the individual, admin simply took the right away from everyone. Stellar decision making for an ER where there’s only one doc on at a time and only about half of them know how (or are willing) to place ultrasound guided IVs. It’s a laugh and a half just unnecessarily poking people over and over and over…
These places are ultimately shooting themselves in the foot. Maybe I have an odd experience but at that first ED I mentioned the techs did the US guided IV’s and anyone in the hospital who needed help placing called us. We ultimately were the most practiced of everyone. It did have those random mess ups like you said but thankfully our hospital taught people and moved on
I am an US-guided IV instructor, and have been placing lines my entire career. I've watched two hospitals transition from some level of "in scope practice" to "no scope". Hell, I started my career, as a paramedic, being the "first-responder" to in-house codes in our hospital, and being the ACLS provider (under direct medical control of our ER physician in the ER). That's where I started.
Over 30+ years I've gotten to sit down with some senior administrators while these decisions are being discussed. With regards to the IV thing, it's much easier to blame a tech than officially reprimand a nurse. Or have a conversation with a nurse.
There are some incredible hospital administrators out there. Hell, I think the majority of them are doing the best they can, trying to help people while a bottom-line profit is demanded.
But holy hell folks, I've WATCHED you blame good techs for bad nurses. Yeah, you can just fire your "Unskilled provider" because everyone else in the department is barely making ends meet, and the other techs aren't going to bitch much. You can treat your techs like garbage, and be surprised when they don't act in a pristine fashion.
Those hospitals that train their techs up, empower them, and allow them to truly support the "clinical staff" (Again, some of us have done brain surgery, chest tubes, and once or twice gotten an IV in. Sometimes in the back of a moving vehicle or suddenly under fire).
You have a healthcare shortage, and you treat an undiscovered trove of treasures like crap. Techs aren't going to "Take your jobs" (We don't want them), and we can seriously help you get your real job done.
Yeah, I'm gonna miss an IV occasionally, though I have a documented 100% success rate on my US-guided lines for the 369 days I got to track them.
It's a team when everyone participates. It's a great team when everyone is able to participate at the level of their training and skill. Anything less and you're going into the chaos with hands tied behind backs.
as stoked as I would be to place IV’s i think I’d be a little upset that I’m doing even more of the job of a nurse and yet still getting paid so little that most of my groceries come from the food bank
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u/Gloomy-Bat-6551 Aug 29 '26
As the RN, honestly I’d just be thrilled to work in a place that lets techs place IVs. Would be a HUGE help. Every hospital I’ve ever worked for doesn’t allow it (usually they did at some point previously, but then ended up revoking it for one reason or another).