Careers
IV Infusion Nurse Career Overview
IV infusion nurses deliver infusion therapy, administering intravenous fluids and medications. Job titles include IV nurse, IV therapy nurse, chemotherapy inf…
role-guide
Time to become: 2 to 4 years Average annual salary: $71,565 (Payscale) Job outlook (2024-2034): 5% growth for all RNs
IV infusion nurses deliver infusion therapy, administering intravenous fluids and medications. Job titles include IV nurse, IV therapy nurse, chemotherapy infusion nurse, and oncology infusion nurse. The work is flexible and spans many settings, including home healthcare, hospitals, long-term care, and private practice.
Career Summary
ADN or BSN required. Infusion nurses work on collaborative teams delivering treatments that must be given intravenously, serving patients of all ages with a focus on outcomes.
Key Skills and Responsibilities
- Coordinating and administering therapeutic IV treatments and infusions
- Developing care plans
- Educating patients and caregivers
- Managing infusion therapy complications
- Monitoring patient responses to treatment
- Performing patient assessments
- Reviewing lab reports and drug information
Career Traits
Advocacy, collaboration, leadership, and resourcefulness.
Where IV Infusion Nurses Work
Settings include infusion centers, outpatient pharmacies and surgical centers, specialty clinics, hospital units, and patients' homes.
Home infusion nurse: Travels to clients' homes on a flexible schedule to assess patients, build care plans, and deliver one-on-one infusion therapy.
Oncology infusion nurse: Administers IV treatment to cancer patients in inpatient and outpatient settings, reviews lab results, follows chemotherapy and other infusion protocols, and coordinates with the patient's care team.
Clinical trials infusion nurse: Manages patients in clinical trials, administers drug infusions, monitors responses, and reports to the study's principal investigator. May involve travel.
Why Become an IV Infusion Nurse
The advantages tend to outweigh the drawbacks.
Advantages: regular weekday hours, continuity of care, strong patient relationships, and direct, observable results.
Drawbacks: a learning curve to build IV skills, a few years of experience required for some roles, and potentially high patient loads.
How to Become an IV Infusion Nurse
Four steps: earn a nursing degree, get your RN license, build experience, and pursue certification.
1. Earn an ADN or BSN
Online or on campus, an ADN typically takes two years and a BSN four.
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN
Becoming an RN requires passing the NCLEX-RN, which graduates take soon after finishing their degree.
3. Gain Infusion Therapy Experience
RNs can start in entry-level infusion roles right away. Some positions, like home infusion nursing, prefer a few years of experience in a field such as surgical nursing.
4. Earn the CRNI Credential
Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) certification isn't mandatory but is required by some employers. Eligibility requires an RN license and at least 1,600 hours of infusion therapy experience.
What IV Infusion Nurses Earn
Payscale lists the average annual salary at $71,565, though that figure rests on a small number of self-reported salaries. For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary of $93,600 for RNs overall. Pay varies by location, certification, education, and setting. California RNs earn the most nationwide, and travel infusion nurses often out-earn other infusion roles.
FAQ: IV Infusion Nurses
Is infusion nursing stressful?
Less so than many specialties. Schedules usually follow a standard work week with weekends and holidays off, and some roles offer flexibility. Nurses often move into infusion work after high-intensity settings like emergency and acute care.
What does the CRNI exam cover?
The CRNI exam is 140 multiple-choice questions across three core areas: principles of practice, access devices, and infusion therapies.
Where can I build IV experience?
Any setting where nurses give IV medications, fluids, and treatments: emergency nursing, intensive care, oncology, pediatrics, surgery, long-term care, and more.
What does IV therapy treat?
A wide range, including blood transfusions, chemotherapy, antibiotic courses, and electrolyte or vitamin infusions.