How to Become an IV Infusion Nurse

IV infusion nurses are highly skilled professionals with a unique role in the healthcare system. These nurses specialize in administering medications and fluids through an intravenous (IV) line. They are a valued resource, practice in a variety of settings, and care for patients from infancy through their senior years.

There are several steps to becoming an IV infusion nurse. Discover the education, licensure, experience, and certification you’ll need to practice as an infusion nurse.

An IV infusion nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who specializes in administering IV fluids, including chemotherapy, antibiotics, blood products, and immunotherapy medications. They are also adept at drawing blood and placing central, midline, and peripheral intravenous access lines.

Although most RNs can establish a basic IV line, IV infusion nurses handle complicated or challenging placements and administrations. For example, the added training needed to become an IV infusion nurse enables them to place an IV in an infant, older person, dehydrated person, or someone with a more specialized medical situation.

IV infusion nurses can work in hospitals, clinics, home healthcare, cancer centers, infusion centers, and medical spas. Depending on your work setting, you may work nontraditional hours.

The first step to becoming an IV infusion nurse is to become an RN and earn a license to work in the state where you intend to practice. After earning a two or four-year degree, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN examination and gain relevant nursing experience.

An ADN is the minimum degree required to become an IV infusion nurse, but most employers prefer BSN-prepared nurses. The shortest path to becoming an IV infusion nurse is to complete a two-year ADN program and then an 18-month RN-to-BSN program, since most employers prefer to hire BSN-prepared nurses.

The minimum educational requirement to become an IV infusion nurse is an RN license with an ADN or BSN degree. You can also specialize as an IV infusion nurse with a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree, but this is optional.

RN licensing requirements vary by state. It is crucial to check with your state’s board of nursing to determine the requirements, documentation, application, and fee needed to renew your license.

The Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC) offers the only certification in this specialty. The certified registered nurse infusion (CRNI) is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).

Certification is available but optional in this career. However, earning your specialty certification demonstrates your commitment to professional development and indicates advanced knowledge in infusion. Eligibility includes an active and unencumbered RN license and 1,600 hours of infusion experience in the past two years. CRNI recertification is necessary every three years. It requires 1,000 hours of work experience in the past three years and an active RN license.

The number of people with chronic illnesses is expected to increase by 99.5% from 71.5 million in 2020 to 142.6 million in 2050. Many people with chronic illnesses require advanced care during hospitalization or homecare, which can include IV infusion. After becoming an IV infusion nurse, you can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, homecare, and cancer centers.

After acquiring at least two years of bedside nursing experience, consider looking within your hospital for an IV infusion nurse position. You might also search online job boards or consider an IV infusion nurse internship. If one is unavailable within your hospital, consider proposing a limited unpaid internship to obtain experience that improves your potential for employment.

The job outlook is the same as for all RNs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for RNs is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032. The median annual salary for IV infusion nurses in 2024 was $82,000, according to Payscale data from January 2024.

It takes about 4-6 years to become an IV infusion nurse, depending on whether you get an ADN or BSN first. This includes 2-4 years to complete your nursing degree and two years of bedside nursing and IV infusion experience.

The fastest way to become an IV infusion nurse is to earn your ADN degree in two years, complete an RN-to-BSN program in two years while working, and gain two years of bedside experience. The final step is completing several continuing education offerings and acquiring experience with IV infusion and medication administration over about nine months. This pathway takes about six months less time than attending a traditional BSN program first.

Becoming an IV infusion nurse is just as difficult as becoming an RN. Nursing students must be adept in various subjects and skills, including math, science, sociology, communication, and leadership, in addition to direct IV infusion-related skills and experiences.

Yes, IV infusion nurses can be paid well, depending on your years of experience, geographical location, certification, and work setting. Payscale reports the median annual salary is $82,000 for IV infusion nurses.

This depends on your work setting and expectations. Many IV infusion nurses work in outpatient clinics or specialty services. These settings typically adhere to more traditional working hours during the day with weekends off. For this reason, your job may be less stressful than a traditional RN position.