HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Intravenous Therapy
RNSG 1003
24 Hours
Southeast Campus
Konnie King Briggs, PBT, ASCP; CPI, ACA
Lecture/Lab Instructor
Office Phone: (713) 718-7235
konnie.king@hccs.edu
Continuing Education Office
Houston Community College Southeast
6815 Rustic, Room 211
Houston, Texas 77087
713-718-7633
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE  SOUTHEAST
COURSE SYLLABUS
INTRAVENOUS THERAPY—THEORY AND TECHNOLOGIES
RNSG 1003
Course Description: Basic theory and techniques of venipuncture, intravenous
infusions, and blood drawing. Basic information regarding fluid, electrolytes, blood,
blood products, hyper alimentation, various system physiology, lipids, and local and
systemic complications in IV therapy.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is designed for the healthcare professional who desires to review and apply venipuncture
skills to the techniques of intravenous therapy. The student will learn basic IV therapy theory and
technologies and the proper techniques in performing venipuncture and IV therapy. Information regarding
fluids, electrolytes, blood products, cardiovascular system physiology, medications, risks and
complications in IV therapy will be discussed.
GOALS:
The following goals are introduced through lecture and student lab experience:
A. Demonstrate understanding of reasons for IV therapy.
B. Demonstrate understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the healthcare provider.
C. Demonstrate understanding of the types of IV therapy.
D. Demonstrate proper techniques to perform venipuncture for IV therapy.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course the student will successfully:
A. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic theories and techniques used in the skill of IV therapy.
B. Utilize Standard Precautions, infection control and safety with lab skills procedures.
C. Compare and contrast various types of IV therapy equipment, including catheters and access
devices.
D. Discuss IV fluids, components and compatibility, including IV medications.
E. Perform accurate techniques for patient identification, site selection and the procedure for initiating
an IV device.
F. Discuss complications of intravenous therapy, common problems and solutions.
G. Discuss methods of monitoring, maintaining and discontinuing IV therapy.
H. Perform accurate documentation for IV therapy from post initiation through discontinuation.
PREREQUISITES:
The student must:
 have a high school diploma, GED or college transcript;
 show proof of vaccination against the Hepatitis B virus for performance of live invasive procedures;
and
 have knowledge and/or experience with venipuncture techniques for performance of live invasive
procedures.
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OTHER ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
There are certain physical, mental, and emotional attributes which are required to be successful
when performing venipuncture and obtaining a certificate of completion for RNSG 1003. These
include eye-hand coordination, visual acuity, fluency in English, the ability to promptly respond to
an emergency, good emotional health, and the ability to work under stress.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
The required textbook is Intravenous Therapy for the Health Care Personnel, by Kathryn Booth, ISBN
978-0-07-328112-4, with CD-ROM.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
A. Attendance Policy
Regular and punctual attendance is required at all lecture and laboratory sessions. Class roll
will be taken. If an absence is anticipated, the student is to make a scheduling arrangement in
advance with the instructor. Any student, who exceeds five hours of absence, including tardies,
may be withdrawn from the course. A student who arrives after the scheduled class time is
considered TARDY. Three tardies equal one hour of absence. It is the student’s responsibility
to keep track of his/her attendance record and make up all assignments and exams missed.
Additionally, any student who arrives for an examination fifteen or more minutes late may not
be allowed to take the examination that day. A time will be scheduled by the instructor during
the course to take the missed exam.
B. Dress Code
Students will be expected to attend class and student laboratory clean and neatly dressed to present
a professional appearance.
1. Scrubs
For safety purposes, students are expected to wear scrubs to the student laboratory. Because
the lecture is often completed early, leaving time for unscheduled lab, it is recommended that
students wear scrubs to every class.
2. Lab Coat
A laboratory coat will be issued to each student when live procedures are performed. It must
be fastened securely during the laboratory session and stored in its designated place in the lab
at the end of each session. It is never to be worn or taken outside of the laboratory. Lab coats
soiled with bio hazardous substances must be replaced.
3. Foot Wear
Appropriate footwear is required in the student laboratory. Closed toe and heeled shoes
that are soft-soled, such as leather-type tennis or similar shoes are required. No high
heels, sandals, canvas or lightweight material shoes or shoes that have open areas are
allowed.
4. Fingernails
Fingernails must be clean and at a reasonable length. Reasonable length is defined as
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1/8" above the finger tip. Clear polish only is permitted.
5. Jewelry
While in student lab, jewelry should be limited to one ring and a wristwatch. A
conservative necklace that is kept close to the skin (not dangling) and conservative
earlobe earrings (no more than one pair) that do not extend more than 1/2 inch below the
earlobe are acceptable. Wearing of any other jewelry, or apparel, must be pre-approved
by the instructor.
6. Hair
Hair must be a conservative style, appropriate for the professional lab environment. Hair
must be kept away from the face and eyes during all lab sessions. Caps and hats are
prohibited.
7. Fragrances
All perfumes, colognes and other fragrances of any kind are prohibited from the
classroom and practical/lab sessions at all times.
C. Cell Phones and Pagers
Cell phones and pagers must be turned off while in the classroom or student laboratory.
D.
Behavior
Disruptive behavior or any behavior that interferes with any educational activity being performed
will not be allowed. Additionally, no student may interfere with his/her fellow students’ right to
pursue their academic goals to the fullest in an atmosphere appropriate to a community of scholars.
The following specific rules will apply throughout the course:
1.
2.
3.
4.
E.
Be on time.
Be prepared.
Be respectful and courteous.
Be helpful.
Recording devices
The student use of recording devices, including camera phones, video and audio tape recorders,
cameras and any other electronic device that is capable of recording human voice or image is
prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices and other locations where instruction,
tutoring or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a
reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information
regarding reasonable accommodations. Additionally, the use of recording devices is prohibited in
restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms and other locations where people have a reasonable
expectation of privacy. Violation of this policy may result in discipline, including expulsion.
SPECIAL STUDENT LABORATORY REQUIREMENTS
The student must provide proof of three vaccinations against Hepatitis B before performing any
live invasive procedures.
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A. It is the responsibility of the student to prepare for each lecture/laboratory session. Laboratory
exercises must be studied prior to attending the laboratory period to provide the student with the
basic understanding of what will be expected of him/her during the laboratory session.
B. Each student is responsible for his/her own work and for the cleaning up of his or her workstation.
C. Blood and other biological specimens possibly containing pathogenic organisms may be collected
and used in this course. Therefore, the following precautions must be observed:
1. Food, drink, gum, mints, lozenges, (anything by mouth), or the application of cosmetics is
not be permitted in the laboratory. Avoid putting objects in your mouth or touching your
face or eyes.
2.
Proper hand sanitizing must be observed before and after performing patient/lab procedures
or handling laboratory equipment. Proper hand sanitizing is essential in preventing the
acquisition and spread of potentially harmful organisms.
3.
Safety, professionalism and appropriate behavior are ESSENTIAL when learning and
performing the technical skills of phlebotomy.
D. Appropriately disinfect and clean work area thoroughly after each laboratory session.
E.
Cover spills with paper towels and soak thoroughly with disinfectant for15 minutes.
F.
All accidents/incidents are to be reported immediately to the laboratory instructor.
G. Standard Precautions and proper hand sanitizing techniques as outlined in the textbook must be
observed at all times.
PHYSICAL RISK STATEMENT
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain, and provide to the instructor written permission from a
physician in order to participate in all course functions during the period any physical problem or
limitation is present. The college is not responsible for any exacerbation of a problem that occurs as a
result of the student’s continued participation. A student who is or becomes pregnant during the
training must provide a written statement from her physician stating that she may participate in the
invasive skills of venipuncture, both to perform procedures as well as to have procedures
performed on her by fellow students.
Interactions with others in the student lab carry inherent risks to all participants. In this document,
as well as in the curriculum, students will be given information regarding known risks for various diseases
and provided skills to implement precautions appropriate to these risks. All students are expected to work
with each other part of the learning experience. These assignments may include performing procedures on
student-patients with known or unknown medical diagnoses of hepatitis and HIV.
Furthermore, the student understands that participation in this training exposes the student to certain risks
of illness, injury, or infectious contact. The college will not be held responsible for any illness or injury,
or infectious contact which occurs during participation. The student's signature on the Statement of
Understanding is an acknowledgement of this policy.
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SAFETY POLICY
Professional Risks
In the curriculum, students will be given information regarding known risks for various communicable
diseases and provided necessary skills to implement precautions. Standard Precautions, prescribed by
the Center for Disease Control, will be presented to all students and must be strictly adhered to.
Additionally, it will be the responsibility of the student to implement Standard Precautions appropriately
when performing laboratory procedures in the student lab. The student is also expected to follow all other
HCC policies.
Application of Standard Precautions
Since medical history and examination cannot reliably identify the infectivity of all patients’ blood and
body fluids, precautions against exposure must be followed for all patients. The concept of Standard
Precautions (Body Substance Isolation and Universal Precautions) was first introduced in 1987 by the
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to decrease the occupational risks of blood-borne
diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis B to healthcare workers. The
application of Standard Precautions is continually evolving. All body fluids must be handled with the
same precautions as blood.
1. Use barrier protection routinely to prevent skin and mucous membrane contamination with blood
or other body fluids.
2. Wear gloves:
 When cuts, scratches, or other breaks in skin are present.
 When performing venipuncture procedures.
 When handling blood or any body fluids.
 Anytime it appears that contamination of the hands may occur.
3. Change gloves after each patient contact or when visibly contaminated with blood.
4. Wear a mask, special eyeglasses, goggles, and/or a face shield during procedures that are likely to
generate droplets of blood or other body fluids to prevent exposure of the mucous membranes of
the mouth, nose, and eyes.
5. Wear a fluid-resistant gown when there is a potential for splashing or spraying of blood or body
fluids onto the body.
6. Wash hands or other skin surfaces thoroughly and immediately if contaminated with blood or other
body fluids.
7. Sanitize hands immediately after gloves have been removed even when no external contamination
has occurred.
8. Handle laboratory instruments, especially needles and catheters, with extreme caution.
9. Place used needles, syringes, catheters, and other sharp items into a puncture-resistant biohazard
container for disposal.
10. Needles should NOT be recapped, purposely bent, cut, broken, removed from disposable syringes,
or otherwise manipulated by hand.
11 Exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis should be covered with an occlusive dressing to prevent
contamination.
12. All specimens of blood and body fluids should be put in well-constructed containers with secure
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lids to prevent leaking during transport.
13. Dispose of all biohazard materials according to OSHA guidelines.
14. Decontaminate all laboratory work areas with an appropriate chemical germicide after a spill of
blood or other body fluids and when work activities are completed.
15. Pregnant laboratory workers are not thought to be at greater risk of infection than others in the
laboratory. However, if an infection does develop during pregnancy or if the mother is a carrier
prior to the pregnancy, the infant is at risk of infection by perinatal transmission. Therefore,
pregnant laboratory workers should be especially aware of Standard Precautions.
16. Use proper hand washing or hand sanitizing technique, as outlined in the textbook.
17. Wear closed toe shoes made from durable material other than cloth.
Hand Washing Technique
The student must wash hands properly to prevent the spread of infection. The following technique is to be
observed:
a. Turn on water faucet with a clean paper towel. Wet hands and apply a small amount of an
antiseptic soap.
b. Vigorously lather hands, washing well between the fingers, under fingernails, and the
wrists for at least 15 seconds.
c. Rinse well with a moderate stream of water in a downward motion.
d. Dry hands with a paper towel. Use a clean paper towel to turn off the faucet. Do not
touch the faucet with your hands.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Students must remember at all times that patient information in a health care facility is confidential.
Students shall not disclose to friends, relatives, or other students, the nature of any illness or any
information confidential to student-patients. Students will keep confidential any personal or health
information disclosed by fellow students as required for student laboratory procedures.
Additionally, it is expected that health care professionals may encounter possibly contagious individuals
in routine practice. As an IV Therapy student, you should expect occasions when you may be working
with these individuals or their specimens as part of your learning experience. It would be considered
unprofessional, unethical, and possibly an act of insubordination to refuse to respectfully and properly
perform procedures and have procedures performed on you by these individuals.
Failure to comply with the above is cause for immediate dismissal from the training.
STUDENT EVALUATION:
This course is nonacademic. You will not receive semester hours as credit for the course nor will you
receive a letter grade upon completion. You will either pass the course (by completion, “COM”) or not
pass (by incompletion, “W”). To determine completion of the course, the instructor will assign grades for
all exams, assignments, lab activities and practical exams.
The student must maintain an average of 70% for the lecture portion of the course AND a minimum of
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75% for the student laboratory portion to receive a passing grade of completion.
Lecture Portion – ½ of Final Grade
1. Final Exam – 50%
2. Exams, quizzes, assignments – 50%
Laboratory Portion – ½ of Final Grade
1. Practical exams – 80%
2. Lab procedures – 20%
WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY:
For continuing education courses fewer than 360 contact hours, full refund will be made if 1) a student
withdraws before the first class date, 2) if the college makes an error or, 3) the college cancels the class.
The college processes refunds as soon as possible, and they are generally mailed four to six weeks
following the last day to apply for a refund. Any refund mailed to the student’s name and address on
record is considered delivered. The Stop Payment Fee to reissue a refund check mailed to an incorrect
address is $20. Tuition and fees paid directly to the institution by a sponsor, grants, loans, donor, or
scholarship shall be refunded to the source rather than directly to the student. Fees paid by other third
parties, such as friends or relatives, will be refunded directly to the student.
DISABILITY SERVICES:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who
needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services (DDS)
Counselor at the beginning of each semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the DDS Office. The Southeast College DDS Office phone number is
713-718-7218.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Houston Community College has outlined instructional goals in the strategic plan, “Building a Learning
College.” Basic Phlebotomy complies with these goals in the following manner:
 Opportunities for Student-Faculty Interaction. Students are encouraged to ask questions
during the didactic portion of the course and request clarification and guidance while in the
student laboratory. Additionally, students may schedule individual conferences with the
instructor as needed.
 Opportunities for Career Exploration. Career and employment opportunities for
phlebotomists are discussed in the didactic portion of the course. Other learning opportunities
are explored in the various disciplines offered at HCC.
 Opportunities for Supplemental Instruction. Students are informed of various books,
publications, videos, and software, which relate to the field of phlebotomy. Outside
assignments are given to enhance learning.
 Speaker Forum. Healthcare professionals are invited to share information on opportunities in
employment, technical aspects of phlebotomy, and customer service.
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STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
RNSG 1003
Please read and initial each of the following statements:
I have read and understand the syllabus and agree to abide by all of the rules contained therein. _____
I understand that if I miss more than five (5) hours of class, including tardies, that I may be withdrawn
from the class. ______
I understand that if I arrive for an examination fifteen or more minutes late, I may not be allowed to take
the examination that day. A time will be scheduled during the course to take the missed exam. _____
I understand that in RNSG 1003, I may be performing IV procedures on my classmates, and they may
perform the same procedures on me, as directed by my instructor(s). I agree to fully participate in these
procedures. _____
I have read the safety policy in this syllabus. I understand that body fluids, biological specimens and
blood products utilized in student lab may possess the potential of transmitting infectious diseases such as
hepatitis and HIV. I understand that instruction will include proper handling of equipment and biohazard
products to decrease the risk of exposure, (Standard Precautions), and I agree to abide by them. ____
I agree to maintain ethics, confidentiality and professionalism with students as outlined in this syllabus. I
will not give medical advice, recommend treatment of any kind or divulge information regarding another
student. I will report any matters in question to the instructor or supervisor immediately. ______
I understand the restrictions regarding the student use of recording devices in HCC facilities and agree to
abide by these policies. _______
I understand that I must maintain an average of 70% for the lecture portion and a 75% for the laboratory
portion of RNSG 1003 in order to receive a passing grade of complete.____
I understand that I must provide proof of three vaccinations against Hepatitis B in order to perform live
invasive procedures. ______
I have read and understand the dress code requirements, including the prohibition of fragrances
and cell phones, and agree to abide to the rules therein.______
Student Name (print) _____________________________________________________
Student Signature________________________________________________________
Today’s Date____________________________________________________________
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