IV Nurses

TO:

FROM: Matthew Ranelli, Research Attorney

RE: IV Nurses

You asked what an IV nurse is and what are the licensure requirements. You also asked for information on the licensure requirements for x-ray technicians.

IV (intravenous) nurses' primary responsibilities include initiating venipuncture and performing IV therapy. The Department of Public Health (DPH) does not license nurses as IV nurses per se. In hospitals, IV nurses are registered nurses (RN) or licensed practical nurses (LPN). In other health care facilities, IV nurses must be RNs.

Licensed x-ray technicians must complete an accredited course of study, pass a DPH examination, and pay a $100 licensing fee. They are authorized to operate medical x-ray systems and perform venipuncture and administer intravenous medication for diagnostic procedures.

The state does not license nurses as IV nurses and the statutes do not define an IV nurse. Generally, an IV nurse is a nurse whose primary responsibilities include initiating venipuncture in a peripheral vein and performing IV therapy. According to Marie Hilliard of DPH, IV nurses function in two separate contexts (1) hospitals and (2) health care facilities that are not hospitals such as chronic and convalescent nursing homes, infirmaries operated in educational institutions, home health care agencies, and private freestanding facilities that care for or treat substance abusive or dependent persons. The requirements for IV nurses differ depending on where the nurse works.

In hospitals, IV nurses are either RNs or LPNs. In the hospital context, IV nurse is not defined by statute or regulation, it is essentially a job description. RNs and LPNs are both authorized to initiate IVs. According to Hilliard, hospital IV nurses are usually RNs as a matter of industry practice.

In health care facilities that are not hospitals, state regulations require an IV therapy nurse to be an RN. For example, the regulations for licensure of chronic and convalescent nursing homes require an IV therapy nurse to be “a registered nurse who is qualified by education and training and has demonstrated proficiency in the theoretical and clinical aspects of IV therapy . . .” (Ct. Regs. 19-13-D8u). The regulations for home health care agencies and licensed infirmaries contain the same definition (Ct. Regs. 19-13-D72, 19-13-D43a). According to Hilliard, one reason that free-standing facilities must use more highly trained nurses is that the facilities are not as well equipped to handle complications that could arise from IVs.

State law prohibits anyone from operating a medical x-ray system without a license from DPH. To be licensed, an applicant must (1) pay a $100 fee; (2) complete a course of study in radiologic technology in a program accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association or its successor, or a course of study deemed equivalent by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; and (3) pass an examination prescribed by DPH and administered by the registry (CGS § 20-74bb(a)). Licences must be renewed annually for $50. Licensed technicians may operate medical x-ray systems and are authorized to perform venipuncture and administer intravenous medication for diagnostic procedures (CGS § 20-74dd). For additional information regarding x-ray technician licensure requirements see OLR Report 95-R-1354 (attached).