IV Education for Unlicensed Assistive Personnel: Medical Assistants, Phlebotomists, Nursing Assistants

Course overview

The use of unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to insert peripheral IVs is a trend that is growing in healthcare. Within the United States, UAPs can be employed under many titles: medical assistant (MA), certified nurse assistant (CNA), patient care technician (PCT), phlebotomist, dialysis technician, anesthesia technician, and emergency medical technician (EMT). This course is written specifically to provide unlicensed personnel with evidence-based infusion practices that will facilitate quality IV practices, improve patient outcomes, and decrease liability. Regulations for UAPs can vary widely from state to state, facility to facility, and across jurisdictions. The practice of IV therapy by any individual should be performed according to their level of education and skill competency demonstration. The role, responsibility, accountability and education requirements for each type of clinician involved with infusion therapy administration and vascular access insertion management should be clearly defined within the organization policy according to the applicable regulatory agencies or boards for the state. IV skill competency requirements are obtained and maintained through the healthcare provider's employer, facility or institution, with a preceptor. The number of times a procedure must be repeated to demonstrate competency will be determined by the employer or as stipulated by the Board of Nursing or other governing agency. Pedagogy has developed skill checklists for all infusion procedures, and these are available in the course, for print out and completion with a preceptor.