Unit 1: Legal Aspects of who can start an IV
Each state has a list of licensed medical professionals whose course curriculum includes intravenous access/insertion. Below is just a few of the medical professionals who can start IV’s.
Medical Doctors
Doctor of Osteopathy
Nurse Practitioners
Registered Nurses
Paramedics
EMT’s
Medical Assistants
Phlebotomy Technicians
Keep in mind that no one can just randomly start an IV on a patient. IV’s can only be inserted for valid medical reasons. These reasons are decided by a physician. Regardless whether the IV is for a 150mL bag of a vitamin B12 solution or a 500 mL solution of Vancomycin, the IV must first be ordered by a Physician and detailed with comprehensive medical reasoning for such therapy, i.e. (why it is needed)
As an example, a medical assistant who works for a oncology practice may be authorized by a physician at the practice to begin an IV on a patient, while the registered nurse would then infuse the chemotherapy fluid.
The main concept herein is that a medical physician must first order the IV and then designate who can insert or begin the line. Hospitals have allowed phlebotomist who have been trained in IV start to insert IV lines, as well as medical assistants and EMTs.
Training is essential and on one should even attempt to insert an IV without the proper certification and training.
