IV Therapy & Blood Withdrawal

The IV course is intended for professionals who need continuing education. The course is designed to safely enable the Licensed Vocational Nurse to initiate and maintain intravenous therapy in a clinical setting.

The Instructor-to-Participant ratio in the IV Therapy/Blood Withdrawal course is 1:15 during lectures and clinical practicum.

The course consists of five (5) instructional days, including theory and clinical training. Days 1 through 3 include eight (8) hours per day of lecture covering the theory behind the practice and principles of intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal within the scope of practice for LVNs, RNs, and licensed physicians in the state of California. Day 4 includes three (3) hours of theory and five (5) hours of clinical instruction. Day 5 consists of four (4) hours of clinical practice conducted in a clinical skills laboratory setting in which each student must complete a minimum of three (3) individually supervised successful venipunctures, and three (3) individually supervised skin punctures (capillary blood withdrawal) on live human subjects

The expected course completion time is per the campus schedule.

• Recognize the role of the Registered Nurse and the Licensed Vocational Nurse in IV Therapy and Blood Withdrawal.
• List factors that affect the flow rates of IV solutions.
• Describe the proper use of specific IV therapy, arterial puncture, and blood withdrawal equipment.
• Initiate IV therapy, blood withdrawal, arterial puncture utilizing nursing precautions, or patient safety by:
  • Preparing the patient psychologically.
  • Explaining the rationale for blood withdrawal, arterial punctures, and venipunctures.
  • Differentiating between the types of skin puncture, venipunctures, and arterial devices and their appropriate uses.
  • Differentiating between skin puncture, arterial puncture, and venipunctures.
  • Distinguishing between types of intravenous solutions and their appropriateness.
  • Preparing equipment properly and aseptically.
  • Selecting and correctly preparing the most appropriate vein for venipunctures, blood withdrawal, or arterial puncture.
  • Preparing the site in a manner that reduces the chance of infection.
  • Performing venipunctures utilizing the direct or indirect method.
  • Performing blood withdrawal utilizing skin puncture (vacutainer, butterfly, syringe), arterial puncture, or venipunctures.
  • Dressing site according to policy.
  • Securing and immobilizing devices appropriately and safely.
  • Regulating the flow rate and fluid accurately.
  • Documenting on the medical records.
• Recognize complications related to blood withdrawal, arterial punctures, and venipunctures.
• Recognize local and systemic reactions related to intravenous therapy.
• List the nursing measures taken to reduce local and systemic reactions.
• Note five reasons to discontinue and restart IV devices.
• Detail the cause and differentiate clinical symptoms of electrolyte imbalances.
• Identify the role of IV therapy and pH balance.
• List the causes of pH imbalances.
• Differentiate actions, dosages, side effects, and nursing implications of specified intravenous solutions.
• Correlate the IV fluid container label with the solution’s name, as commonly ordered.
• List the usual components of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).
• Identify nursing precautions relating to TPN.
• Recognize safety techniques utilized in blood transfusions.
• Recognize types of transfusion reactions.
• List nursing actions that are taken when a blood transfusion occurs.
• Examine the differences between techniques used in adult and pediatric IV therapy.
• Discuss situations related to IV therapy and its legal implications.
• Describe appropriate ways of minimizing legal risks in IV therapy and blood withdrawal practice.
• Identify the safety precautions regarding administering IV fluids, withdrawing blood, and testing adequate circulation about the arterial puncture site.

Class schedules are subject to change. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts might cancel the upcoming course schedule if the minimum enrollment of 15 students is not met within one week of the proposed start date. Students who opt not to register for the following course schedule will be subject to the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ Continuing Education Courses Refund Policy.

Participants must bring a volunteer to participate in the venipuncture skills check to complete the course’s clinical portion on the final day.

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss the structure and function of veins.
2. Identify the names and the locations of the veins most suitable for phlebotomy and cannulation/venipuncture.
3. Assemble equipment and supplies needed to collect blood and cannulation/venipuncture, and discuss the correct use.
4. Demonstrate the steps in performing blood collection and cannulation/venipuncture procedures.
5. Assess the techniques and equipment used to minimize biohazard exposure in blood collection and cannulation/venipuncture.
6. Evaluate procedural blood collection and cannulation/venipuncture errors and discuss remedies for each.
7. Differentiate complications associated with blood collection and cannulation/venipuncture and their effect on the quality of laboratory results.

The tables below reflect the upcoming start times only.

Textbooks are loaned to the student by Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. If the textbook is not returned in usable condition, the student will be responsible for the $125.00 cost. Certificates will not be released until all financial obligations with the school have been met.

Before registration, applicants must meet the following admission criteria:

• Provide valid photo identification
• Provide proof of one of the following:
  • A current and valid California LVN license.
  • Senior standing in a CA VN Program with successful completion of Module IV.
  • A graduate of a California Vocational Nurse program.
  • Interim Permit status for California LVN licensure.
  • Licensed RN (CA state).
  • A licensed physician (CA state).

Applicants must register online through our website. To complete registration, the applicant must select the IV Therapy/Blood Withdrawal Course on the CE Courses page (This Page).

Choose an appropriate campus and desired start date and click the Registration button. Follow the required steps to complete registration. Students must contact admission advisors to follow up on the completion of registration.

IV Therapy and Blood Withdrawal Course Completion Certificate

BVNPT Certificate of Completion Form

IV Therapy and Blood Withdrawal Course Refund and Cancellation Policy

You are entitled to cancel your course of instruction; however, the Seat Reservation Fee is non-refundable and will be retained after registration. When calculating the cancellation refund amount, we use the formula: Total Amount Paid — Seat Reservation Fee.

To cancel the course, the student must provide written notice of cancellation. Cancellation can be made by mail, email, or hand delivery. If sent by mail, the written notice of cancellation is sufficient when deposited in the mail and properly addressed (to the Admission Advisor) with the proper postage. The written notice of cancellation need not take any particular form and, however expressed, it is valid if it shows that the student no longer wishes to attend the course.

You are entitled to withdraw from the course at any time and have the right to receive a pro-rata refund if you have completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days through the last day of attendance. When calculating the prorated refund amount, we use the following formula:

• Total Amount Paid — STRF — Seat Reservation Fee — (Hourly Tuition Cost) x (Number of hours attended)
• Hourly Tuition Cost = Tuition / (Total Hours in the course).

If Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts cancels the course, students will be notified about the upcoming schedule and automatically receive reassignment to the next available class. If there is a scheduling conflict, the student is responsible for opting out of the next course. The student must submit a written cancellation notice to opt out and receive a full refund. Please state the reason for the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ cancellation and schedule conflict.

IV Therapy and Blood Withdrawal Course Attendance-Tardiness-Drop Policy

If there is a scheduling conflict, the student is responsible for opting out of the next course.

• ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools)
• BPPE (Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education)
• BVNPT (Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians)