Peripheral Intravenous Education in North American Nursing Schools: A Call to Action

Peripheral intravenous (PIV) management requires knowledge, skill, and clinical judgment to ensure positive patient outcomes; yet, many nurses lack confidence in their PIV knowledge and skills. It is important that graduate nurses acquire PIV knowledge and skills in nursing school. This study aimed to explore PIV content coverage and clinical opportunities provided in U.S. and Canadian nursing curricula.

Using a descriptive, exploratory design, representatives of nursing schools completed a 12-item, web-based PIV curriculum survey.

Most schools covered PIV content in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings; however, some indicated students were not allowed to initiate PIVs in clinical settings. Participants noted that PIV education was a shared responsibility with health systems.

It is important that nursing students develop PIV competence; however, competing pressures for time in nursing curricula may limit PIV coverage. Nurse educators can benefit from PIV and infusion therapy specialty organization resources. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(9):493-500.].