This course is designed to fulfill the educational requirements of the South Carolina State Board of Nursing as it pertains to the practice of IV therapy. Each state board has differing requirements that the nurse must meet regarding infusion therapies. The nurse must be aware of the rules provided by the board for the state in which they practice.
In early 2021, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS), recognized as the global authority in infusion therapy, released the updated Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. The INS sets the accepted standards for infusion therapy practice for all healthcare settings. This course is based on the current best practices as defined by the Infusion Nursing Society and other governing agencies such as the CDC, and FDA.
This course offers 14.00 contact hours of continuing nurse education (CEU/CNE). Certificates of Completion are instantly available to print after successful completion of each course with an exam score of 80% or greater. For courses where relevant skills are required, skills check-off lists are available at the end of each course to print and complete with a qualified preceptor.
Have questions? Check out our FAQs page and our page, How Online IV Certification Works. If you need to purchase IV education for your staff, see our Learning Management System page for more information and instructions on how to get started. We offer bulk discounts!
Curriculum
Chapter 1: Nursing Regulations and State Boards of Nursing
- Boards of Nursing
- Nurse Practice Acts
- Licensure
Chapter 2: South Carolina State Board of Nursing
Chapter 3: Nurse Licensure Compact
Chapter 4: Scope of Practice
- Licensed Vocational Nurse Scope of Practice
- Registered Nurse Scope of Practice
- Nursing Management of Invasive Devices
- Scope of Practice Decision Tree
- Continuing Education Requirements
Chapter 5: Advisory Opinions and Position Statements
- Advisory Opinion # 9A: Central Intravenous Therapies (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 9B: Administration of Peripheral and Central Intravenous Therapies (LPN)
- Advisory Opinion # 7: Anti-Neoplastic Agents (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 28: Antibiotics 1st Dose in the Home (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 26: Arterial Access Line/Devices (LPN)
- Advisory Opinion # 19: Blood Products Verification (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 30: Dialysis (LPN) / IV Push Medications (LPN)
- Advisory Opinion # 24: Intraosseous Infusion Devices (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 55: Pain Management
- Advisory Opinion # 16: Peripheral IV Lines (LPN)
- Advisory Opinion # 5: Peripheral IV Therapies (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 65: Peripherally Inserted Centralized Catheter (PICC) - Informed Consent
- Advisory Opinion # 31: Platelet - Home Health (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 4: Radio opaque dye (RN/LPN)
- Advisory Opinion # 59: Ultrasound guidance for peripheral IV placement (RN)
- Advisory Opinion # 19: Verification of Blood Products (RN)
Chapter 6: Legal Issues
- Regulatory Agencies and Governing Bodies
- Components of a Complete Order
- Legal Terms and Applications
- Protective Measures for Guarding Against Malpractice Lawsuits
Chapter 7: Anatomy and Physiology
- The Vascular System: Veins, Arteries and Bone Marrow
- The Three Layers of the Vessels and Their Function
- Differentiating Arteries from Veins
- Veins Used in Peripheral Intravenous Therapy for Pediatrics and Adults
- Intraosseous
- Skin ‐ Anatomy and Physiology
Chapter 8: Psychological Needs of the IV Patient
- Age Specific Needs
- Elderly Patient Needs
- Cultural Aspects
- Patients with Sensory Deficits
- Methods of Reducing Patient Anxiety
- Patient Teaching/Education
Chapter 9: Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
- Water: The Primary Fluid of the Body
- Hypovolemia - Dehydration: Assessment, Causes, Treatments
- Hypervolemia - Fluid Overload: Assessment, Causes, Treatments
- Fluid Compartments
- Electrolyte Imbalances: Assessment, Causes, Treatments
Chapter 10: pH, Osmolality and Incompatibilities of Solutions and Medications
- pH of Intravenous Solutions and Medications
- Tonicity: Isotonic Solutions, Hypotonic Solutions and Hypertonic Solutions Incompatibilities
Chapter 11: Fluid Regulation
- Methods of Fluid Regulation
- Patient Considerations in Fluid Regulation
- External Factors that Affect the Rate of Flow
- Calculation of IV flow Rates
Chapter 12: Infection Prevention and Safety Compliance
- Hand Hygiene
- Sharps Management
- Medical Waste Disposal
- Durable Medical Equipment Disinfection
- Standard Precautions
- Transmission-Based Precautions
Chapter 13: Vascular Visualization
- Trans-illuminator Technology
- Near Infrared Technology
- Ultrasound
Chapter 14: Site Selection and Device Placement
- Criteria For Peripheral Devices
- 3 Types of Peripheral Access And Criteria For Placement
- Special Considerations of The Specific Age Groups
- General Considerations of Short Peripheral Access
- Veins to Avoid
Chapter 15: Vascular Access Device Management
- Needleless Connectors
- Filtration
- Add-on Devices
- VAD Stabilization
- Joint Stabilization
- Site Protection
- Flushing and Locking
- Assessment, Care, and Dressing Changes
- Administration Set Changes
Chapter 16: Complications
- Local Complications
- Hematoma
- Infiltration
- Extravasation
- Phlebitis
- Site Infection
- Catheter Occlusion
- MARSI
- Nerves—Avoiding Damage
- Compartment Syndrome Systemic Complications
Chapter 17: Procedures Guides and Videos
- Pre-insertion Procedures
- Peripheral IV Insertion
- Primary and Secondary Administration Set-up
- IV Push Administration
- Catheter Discontinuation
Chapter 18: Assessment and Documentation
- Catheter Insertion Documentation
- Catheter Removal Documentation
- Assessment, Monitoring and Documentation by Therapy
Chapter 19: Resources
- Skill Competency Checklists
- Peripheral IV Insertion
- Medication Administration
- Large Volume Electronic Infusion Device
- IV Push
- Administration of Infusate via an Ambulatory Infusion Pump
Chapter 20: Central Line Review
- Definition of a central line:
- Reasons for use of a central line
- Advantages of a central line
- Overview of Central Venous Access Devices:
- Lumens
- Non‐valved and valved catheters
- Non‐tunneled catheters
- Tunneled catheters
- Implanted ports
- PICC or Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
Chapter 21: Anatomy
- Veins used for placement of central venous access devices
- Catheter tip placement
Chapter 22: Assessment and Preparations for Central Venous Catheterization
- Considerations for selection of the device
- Preparations for central venous catheterization
Chapter 23: Vascular Access Device Management
- Needleless connectors
- Filtration
- Add-On devices
- CVAD stabilization
- Site protection
- Flushing and locking
- Assessment, care, and dressing changes
- Administration set changes
- Blood Sampling from a CVAD
Chapter 24: Procedure Guides and Videos
- Central venous catheter dressing change
- Needleless access device change
- Central venous catheter flushing
- Blood Sampling from a CVAD
Chapter 25: Complications
- Catheter related complications
- Systemic complications
- Insertion related complications
Chapter 26: Discontinuation of Therapy
- Removal of devices
- Central venous access device removal procedure
Chapter 27: Assessment and Documentation and Patient Education
- Documentation of insertions, removal, infiltration or extravasations
- Assessment, monitoring, documentation by type of therapy
Chapter 28: Resources
- Skill competency checklists:
- Accessing a Port
- Administration of Infusate via an Ambulatory Infusion Pump
- Blood Specimen Collection From a CVAD
- De-Accessing an Implanted Port
- IV Push
- Large Volume Electronic Infusion Device
- Medication Administration
- Midline or Central Line Dressing Change
- Needleless Connector Device Change