IV therapy is often considered a “bougie” job by many nurses, says Jenny Haiar, owner of iv&co in South Dakota. Haiar says they get dozens of applications from applicants who work in physically and emotionally demanding nursing positions for every open position. “Every nurse wants to work in this industry because it’s a great gig, which means I can afford to be extremely picky about who I hire,” says Haiar.
Still, IV therapy doesn’t come without caution. While it’s unlikely to see extreme reactions or have an emergency at an IV hydration clinic, behind every IV therapy bag of vitamins and fluids is the reality of the inherent risks in any medical treatment. Liability isn’t just a theoretical concern. It can quickly become a business-ending event if you’re not thoroughly prepared.
Haiar was one of the earlier entrepreneurs to enter the IV hydration business and a pioneer in her state. Her clinic has had no severe adverse reactions in over a decade of operations –– a track record she attributes to thoughtful hiring, strict protocols and relentless focus on patient safety. Here she shares strategies for delivering safe, low-risk IV therapy.
Related read: Building a Safe, Successful and Sustainable IV Therapy Operation
Expect the best, prepare for the worst
After serving over 5,000 clients, iv&co hasn’t faced a severe adverse reaction in the clinic. Still, Haiar says they operate under the assumption that one could happen at any time. The clinic is equipped with a complete emergency response kit, including EpiPens, Benadryl and all standard antidotes, as well as an AED (automated external defibrillator).
“We’re ready for anything, even if we never need to use it. That’s non-negotiable,” says Haiar.
An experienced team is your first line of defense
Core to Haiar’s business safety is hiring the right staff. iv&co employees registered nurses with at least three years of experience and deep knowledge of IV placement and infusion management. These are typically ER nurses, labor and delivery nurses and surgical nurses. “These are the types who regularly place IVs and are prepared to act quickly if something goes wrong,” says Haiar.
Anyone with years of experience working in hospital settings should be well-trained to handle any potential bad reactions to IV therapy. “Those nurses are around acute care situations all the time. They know how to handle adverse events because they deal with them regularly,” says Haiar.
If you’re new to hiring, Haiar recommends conducting working interviews. This means inviting potential hires to demonstrate their skills in real-time before making any job offers.
Develop bulletproof policies and training
Strong policies are not just a regulatory requirement. They’re the backbone of a safe practice. Since Haiar was the first in her state to open an IV therapy clinic, she developed step-by-step policies that leave no room for ambiguity.
“Now there are templates, but you still need to do the due diligence of going line by line and making sure that your medical director approves of it all,” says Haiar.
The following are some training tips:
Make training materials user-friendly
Haiar’s onboarding process includes one-on-one shadowing, color-coded manuals and extensive education.
Train nurses for parts of the job they likely haven’t done
IV therapy training needs to focus not just on nursing, but also on the pharmacy side of infusion therapy, including proper mixing techniques and compliance.
Emphasize the scope of practice Even experienced nurses can develop bad habits over time. Haiar recommends including foundational principles about how nurses must treat symptoms, not diagnose conditions. Staying within the legal bounds of the nursing role is non-negotiable.
Keep staff up to date with regulatory and industry changes
Haiar’s clinic maintains a full library of research articles, binders and quick-reference guides so staff stay updated on what’s new in the industry.
Client screening to improve safety
Strict client screening protocols will also help reduce the likelihood of an adverse event in IV hydration therapy. Haiar says every client they treat undergoes a detailed medical history review and is screened for allergies, current medications and underlying health conditions.
iv& co has firm exclusion criteria:
- No clients under 12 or over 90 years old
- Pregnant clients must provide clearance from their OB
- Cancer patients require written approval from their oncologist
Client education is another critical component of Haiar’s strategy. Many patients arrive with little understanding of what IV hydration actually involves. iv&co clinic focuses on continuous client education during treatment and updating website content with QR codes linking to research articles and thorough verbal explanations of each treatment.
“I’m a big advocate for over-educating the client so that they can make more informed consent because many people sign the consent without reading it,” says Haiar.
Less is more with dosing
Haiar is also vigilant about dosing and osmolarity calculations. Unlike some clinics that might push for “more is better,” her team limits each IV bag to no more than three vitamins. They also carefully consider the client’s size and health status.
“If a 110-pound client wants every vitamin on the menu, we simply say no. High concentrations can lead to serious issues, and it’s our responsibility to prevent that,” says Haiar.
Don’t underestimate the possibility of risk
Although IV hydration is typically safe, this only remains true if you do your due diligence to run a safe and legally sound IV hydration business.
“This industry feels like it’s part-medical, part-wellness, part-cosmetic, but you have to treat it like pure healthcare,” says Haiar. “Hire experienced nurses, train them well, screen every client thoroughly and prepare for the worst. If you do all that, you’ll likely avoid serious problems.”
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