IVT Training Tips

Since I’m feeling generous today, I will be giving out tips when you’re planning to undergo IVT (Intravenous Therapy) Training in the Philippines. Let me warn you that I’m part of this noble profession (and proud of it) and I won’t be giving out answers. If you’re expecting such, smash your skinny head at your monitor (you’re lucky if it’s lcd) because you won’t be getting any. Let’s rock!

TIP # 1 The Hospital

If you’re a new graduate or a pasaway like me, try to contact your friends if they have undergone the said training. Try to get feedback on how the said hospital: handled the participants, provided quality equipment, has a good training room/facility, training schedule, charge for the training. Usually, Basic IVT training ranges from Php 1,500 to 2,700, depending on the hospital and/or add’l perks like free snacks, lunch or a massage.

(A good tip to know is to ask if the fee they are charging covers the Completion of Cases. Sometimes, they do not give you permission to complete your cases “outside” of the hospital you trained in and they’d charge you extra for completion. Know if you can also complete your cases elsewhere if you started experiencing night terrors after training. ^_^)

TIP#2 UBE

Yes, make it an UBE (Ultimate Bonding Experience) for you and your friends! (Thanks Rachell!) Make it fun, grab your friends and endure hell together! (Just kidding!) What could be more fun than going late to class, failing the exams and looking stupid altogether right? (Right!)

TIP#2.5 Check!

Make sure that at least one of you knows the way.  Contact the hospital you plan to go to, ask if there are enough slots available and other important details.

TIP# 3 Google works!

You can go to this site: http://ivthub.blogspot.com/ . Look around for the training schedules posted, contact numbers, and other relevant information you might need.

Head...Hurts...So... Bad...

TIP #4 Pre-Test (Ehem…)

Right before the day of your training, skip the booze and try to study for once.  To pass the training, there are three components you need to pass or else: Pre-Test, Post-Test and Practicum. (Passing is 75%) Don’t worry about the Post-Test and Practicum for now, focus on one task at a time my Padawan learner… Review the following, or at least refresh yourself a bit on these topics:  IVT infusion (of course), Blood Transfusion, TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) Administration,  Drug administration, Complications of IV therapy, Computation and the Anatomy of the Hand. ( oh so important!)  Usually, Pre-tests include this one so memorize the superficial veins of the hand and arm and you’re good to go!

Just familiarize yourself with the basics of IV: the IV solutions, what needles are used, the parts of an IV cannula, what gauge, how to compute for drops per minute, ABO compatibility, TPN points, what are the different allergic reactions, what’s the preceptor’s favorite color, and many more. Basically, study enough stuff and when you feel that you don’t need to attend class anymore, that means you can go to sleep.

TIP #5 Dress to Impress

Usually, IVT training doesn’t require you to waer your nursing uniform for the lecture parts though it might vary on the third day. (You need a nursing uniform for the completion of cases.) If you’re lucky enough to go with a couple of friends, don’t wear matching colors. They might mistake you for a dance group. You don’t want that do yah? So wear something comfortable enough that can stand the long hours (really long hours!) of  sitting.

TIP#6 The Early Bird Catches the Worm

On your first day, don’t make yourself the target of the lecturer’s wrath. Come early even if you’re a habitual late comer. Here are the perks: you can cram if you didn’t follow tip # 4,  you can choose your cheating sitting arrangement, you can sit next to your crush, you can sit in the back if you plan to sleep in class, you can also sit in front to soak in the lecturer’s saliva shower, you can get cozy and familiarize yourself in the environment eliminating stress or anxiety. (Serious?)

TIP# 7 Oh Yes!

Just follow tips 1-6 and you’re good to go!

TIP#7.5 Extra Stuff

You will be given a Green Handbook, and please try to read through it. It will be your bible at the end of the second training day and at the return demonstration.

TIP#8 Jaws…

Image from metropolitician.blogs.com

First day, piece-of cake.

Second day, WTF?!

Third day, “Dad, Mom, can I shift to Fine Arts?”

This would happen to you if and only IF I didn’t warn you….

On the first day, expect long hours of boring lecture and flashbacks to your old classroom mentality. NO biggie.

On the second day however, things turn for the worst. There is still a long lecture in the morning, now dealing with more serious stuff like TPN and BT. Do not sleep in class. Bring your energy drinks and coffee sachets to class. After finishing the Post -Test (don’t worry, it’s much like the Pre-Test anyway), it’s time for the preceptors to demonstrate the procedures based on the Green Handbook I was talking about earlier.

DON’T be fooled when they say, “You don’t need to memorize anything, you just need to know the concepts…” What a pile of crap!

Because on the third day, you need to recite and demonstrate the steps of the procedures in the Green Handbook you’re holding. (At this point, fight the urge to rip it apart.) Hmmm… it’s like you’re in a cooking showing that you’re telling the preceptor what you’re doing and doing it at the same time. Sounds easy? Try it… Oh, one more thing, the minimum number of steps in a procedure like “Setting Up an IV Infusion” is 15.

TIP# 9 Juicy…

If you’re already disheartened at what I’ve written so far, don’t be.  For the most part of the procedures, the first four steps are almost identical to all 5 major procedures, and the last 3 steps are also almost ends the same. So if you have 20 steps, there’s only a dozen more to go. (lol) Wait! There’s more, try to look for patterns on the procedures like, what comes next after this particular step, what step ends this particular phase of the procedure and so on… Recognize certain “blocks” of  steps:

Example,

Steps 1-5 is about preparing and Verifying the Order;

Steps 6-10 is about Performing the Procedure;

and Steps 11-15 is about Ending/ Discontinuing the Procedure.

There you go, instead of memorizing one long, continuous list (like a grocery list) try to break it into bite-sized chunks.

TIP# 10 Theater

Try to perform it in front of a friend. Just like in performing arts, you can memorize all the lines you want but you can freeze on the actual performance if you haven’t rehearsed it well. It may sound awkward but it really helps. It breaks the tension of preforming a gazillion steps in front of a complete stranger.

Lastly, if this post was helpful to you one way or another, please spread it to your friends and pay it forward. I know how hard it was (check out my other IVT related posts) when I tackled this alone.

Kindly leave your comments or other questions and I’ll try to get back at you as soon as I can.

Goodluck!

PBA09s3o2nss