NC 608: Intravenous (IV) Therapy and Blood Withdrawal Certification Course I

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2025
Credits: 0
Total Contact Hours: 22
Lecture Hours : 17
Lab Hours: 5
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 34
Total Student Learning Hours: 56
Strongly Recommended: Vocational Nursing (VN), Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN), and Registered Nursing (RN) students and graduates.
Transferable to CSU: No
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Non-Credit Course

Catalog Course Description

This course is intended for vocational and registered nursing students and graduates. It introduces students to the current practices of intravenous (IV) therapy and blood withdrawal (BW). It teaches the importance of IV therapy and BW, their purpose, anatomy and physiology, patient preparation, safety procedures, legal implications and complications. It also covers hands-on practice with direct IV start and blood withdrawal from human specimens. Open entry/exit. Course 1 of 2. 17 lecture hours, 5 lab hours.

Course Objectives

  • List areas of appropriate anatomical sites for IV and BW.
  • Explain the need and indication of IV therapy and BW to the patient.
  • Understand blood specimen orders.
  • Prepare and choose appropriate equipment/materials needed for IV and BW.
  • Explain or demonstrate proper use of universal precautions for infection control.
  • Explain different types of venipuncture and vascular access devices.
  • Emphasize safety measures for vascular access, venipuncture, and blood withdrawal.
  • Explain indications, correct dosage calculations, and possible complications related to fluids.

Major Course Content

  1. Anatomy and physiology of IV therapy and BW
  2. Indications of IV therapy and BW 
  3. Infection control
  4. Patient preparation and informed consent
  5. Venipuncture site selection for IV access and BW
  6. Indications for blood withdrawal
  7. Material, equipment, and safety for IV therapy and BW
  8. Identification of IV devices

Lab Content

  1. Reviewing vascular and venipuncture sites
  2. Understanding indications of IV therapy and BW
  3. Performing infection control
  4. Preparing the patient for IV infusion therapy and BW process and obtaining informed consent
  5. Selecting venipuncture sites for IV access and BW
  6. Understanding indications for BW
  7. Choosing equipment for IV therapy and BW and following safety measures

  8. Identifying IV devices

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture, Online Education Lab, Online Education Lecture