Becoming an infusion nurse is a career path that is well-suited to those with the desire to help others. It’s also an opportunity to make a difference in your community by assisting patients who are often left on their own, and it can be very rewarding to know that you’re making a difference in someone’s life.
Becoming an infusion nurse involves going through training and certification, which will help you learn about the different types of infusions that are used in medicine, as well as how to administer them safely. You’ll also gain knowledge about how to care for patients after they’ve received an infusion, including what symptoms might arise during or after treatment.
To become an infusion nurse, first make sure you have graduated from high school or have earned your GED (General Education Development). Then take classes at community colleges or trade schools until you’ve earned an associate’s degree in nursing (AN), or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BN). Next, complete a state-approved course called “Nurse Aid Training” so that you can earn your certification as an “Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).”
Next up: apply for jobs at hospitals or clinics where they hire CNA’s. You should check job postings frequently because there might be some openings.
How To Become An Infusion Nurse
Nursing is often a wonderful career for people interested in medicine and science who also have a passion for helping other people. However, with so many career options within the field, it’s important to choose the type of nursing that best suits you. In this article, we discuss what an infusion nurse is and how to become one.
Related: 52 Types of Nurses
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What is an infusion nurse?
An infusion nurse is a registered medical professional responsible for administering various medications and fluids. This includes inserting, maintaining and dressing lines and working with a variety of lines, include:
- Intravenous (IV) lines
- Venous access ports
- Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC)
- Midlines
Infusion nurses work with many fluids. They may administer many types of infusions, such as:
- Antibiotic infusions
- Blood transfusions
- Fluid or electrolyte infusions
- Intermittent chemotherapy infusions
- Nutrition replacement or vitamin infusions
- Steroid infusions
Many infusion nurses have a range of responsibilities. Some nurses also assist hospitals with beginning lines and training nurses on how to administer and maintain lines. Common duties of infusion nurses include:
- Providing patient education on managing the line site, catheter, port or tubing
- Explaining the purpose of the treatment to the patient
- Providing information on potential treatment side effects, including signs or symptoms to watch for
- Working closely with physicians and other medical professionals
- Reviewing lab test results
- Developing infusion therapy treatment plans
- Understanding important patient medication requirements
- Monitoring and assessing patients for how well they respond to treatments
- Assessing the line with a focus on preventing and controlling infections
- Monitoring patients for potential complications
- Changing dressing on lines
Where do infusion nurses work?
Infusion nurses may work in a variety of settings. While many work in hospitals, they may also have a specialty or department they work in. They may hold titles like resource nurse, bedside nurse or PICC nurse.
Other than hospitals, examples of potential workplaces for infusion nurses include:
- Oncology centers
- Infusion centers
- In homes or with home health agencies
- Primary care practices
- Skilled nursing homes
- Long-term care facilities
- Medical day spas
- Outpatient pharmacies
- International medical relief organizations
Related: Learn About Being a Home Health Nurse
How to become an infusion nurse
Here are the steps to follow to become an infusion nurse:
1. Complete accredited nursing program
Earn your associate degree in nursing (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Either degree can help you become an infusion nurse. However, earning your BSN may provide you with more opportunities in your career, such as becoming a supervisor or a clinical nurse educators.
Related: ADN vs. BSN: Which Nursing Degree Is Right for You?
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and get your nursing license
Once you earn your degree, you can take the National Council Licensure Examination for nurses, also called the NCLEX-RN. This exam assesses your ability and preparedness to begin work as an entry-level nurse by requiring you to use critical thinking and what you learned in your nursing program to answer questions making judgment calls in nursing scenarios. It tests your knowledge on medical, obstetric, pediatric, psychiatric and surgical areas. The exam contains multiple question types, such as:
- Multiple-choice
- Multiple-response
- Drag-and-drop
- Fill-in-the-blank
- Chart or exhibit
- Hot spots
The NCLEX-RN exam uses software that assesses your answers and performance as you take the test. The test provides you with questions until it determines you showed your competency or reach the number of questions allowed. Each person answers at least 75 questions, but no more than 265 questions. Each test also includes 15 experimental questions that do not affect the test taker’s score.
The NCLEX-RN does not time questions individually, but there is a six hour maximum time limit with two optional breaks to complete the exam. As the exam evaluates your performance in real time, you will receive your pass or fail status at the end of your exam. Passing the exam provides you with your nursing license.
3. Gain clinical experience
It’s important to gain clinical experience to become an infusion nurse. Many employers require at least one year or a certain number of hours of clinical experience. Try to gain clinical experience with multiple types of infusion therapy and intravenous access to best develop your skills. Consider gaining experience by working in areas like:
- Geriatrics
- Intensive care units
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Pre- and post-operative surgical units
4. Earn your certification
Infusion nurses may earn formal certification through the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) program. This is a nationally recognized program for providing infusion nurses with credentials. However, not all positions require special certification through the CRNI program.
Earning your CRNI certification requires you to have an active United States RN license and a minimum of 1,600 hours of experience with infusion therapy within the last two years. If you meet these requirements, you can take the exam to earn your certification. CRNI requires you to renew your certification every three years. To do this, you may take an exam or complete 40 hours of continuing education courses.
Related: Nursing Certifications: What You Need To Know
5. Maintain your nursing license
To continue to practice as an infusion nurse, you must maintain your RN license. The requirements to maintain your license will vary by each state. Many states require you to complete an application, pay a fee and complete a certain number of continuing education hours.
6. Continue to build your skills
Continue to improve your skill. Each patient and vein is unique. As you practice as a nurse, try to continue to learn new techniques to provide the best care possible.
Infusion nurse salary
The national average base salary for a registered infusion nurse is $94,611 per year. An infusion nurse’s salary may vary based on factors such as where they work, their specialty, location and experience.
Skills for an infusion nurse
Here are some important skills for an infusion nurse to have:
- Ability to perform venipuncture
- Familiarity with pharmacology, particularly with different IV medications and fluids
- Understanding of lab tests and blood products
- Familiarity with telemetry
- Ability to monitor and assess patients
- Strong hand-eye coordination with a steady hand and keen eye
- Patience
- Understanding of infection control protocols
- Ability to work with different vascular access devices, such as peripherally inserted central catheters, midline access catheters and venous access ports
- Ability to communicate with patients regarding treatment
