What Is an Infusion Nurse?
Infusion nurses are registered nurses who are certified to administer treatments and aid in patient recovery through injections into the veins. Sometimes patients need to be injected with particular medications or fluids intravenously, either because administering the treatments orally is not possible or because it is not efficient. Things that may need to be administered by injection include nutritive supplements, blood, and liquid medications.
Infusion nurses are skilled at administering these types of substances intravenously and monitoring patients’ vital signs during treatment. They are trained to look out for any possible complications or negative interactions, and they know how to provide care in order to prevent harm to patients when these issues arise.
Infusion nurses often work based on orders from doctors and help to oversee the intravenous treatment program. Some infusion nurses specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as intensive care or pediatrics.
How to Become an Infusion Nurse
In order to become an infusion nurse, one must first become a registered nurse. An individual can become a registered nurse through any accredited nursing program that offers a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or an associate to nursing degree.
After graduation, all individuals seeking to work as a registered nurse in the United States must become licensed by passing the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). This is a nationally regulated exam that provides graduates with a legal license to practice as a nurse.
In order to be able to work as an infusion nurse, an individual must attain certification from the Infusion Nurses Certification Coorporation (INCC). In order to qualify for certification as an infusion nurse, one must meet a minimum experience requirement and pass an examination. All infusion nurses will have to complete regular courses in continuing education and receive any new certifications required in order to continue to practice.
Infusion Nurse Career Outlook & Salary
The overall career outlook for registered nurses in the United States is expected to be excellent for the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment of registered nurses in is projected to increase by 22% in the decade from 2008 to 2018. This is a rate much faster than the average rate of growth for other occupations.
Growth can be attributed to an aging population with an increased need for medical care. Additionally, many employers are finding it difficult to locate enough new registered nurses, as a large population of older registered nurses is beginning to retire. The industries employing the largest amount of registered nurses are offices of physicians, which employ 48% of all registered nurses, home health care services at 33%, and nursing care facilities.
As posted on Payscale.com, infusion nurses surveyed in the United States made anywhere from $26.48 to $37.36 per hour. Salary and wage rates will vary based on the employer and geographical location.
