Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for IVCU Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The IVCU Technician (Intravenous Care Unit Technician) is a clinical support professional responsible for preparation, maintenance, and monitoring of intravenous (IV) therapy and vascular access devices in outpatient infusion centers, hospital infusion units, and interventional vascular care settings. This role supports nurses, pharmacists, and physicians by performing aseptic compounding, IV line setup, catheter care (PICC, central lines, peripheral IVs), infusion pump management, venipuncture/phlebotomy when certified, and detailed documentation to ensure safe, compliant delivery of IV medications and fluids. The ideal candidate balances technical sterile-procedure expertise with patient-centered communication, infection-control vigilance, and strong inventory and equipment management skills.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Phlebotomist or Certified Phlebotomy Technician transitioning to IV-focused care
Medical Assistant or Patient Care Technician with IV certification
Pharmacy Technician with sterile compounding experience

Advancement To:

IV Nurse / Registered Nurse (IV infusion specialty)
Lead IVCU Technician or Charge Tech
Clinical Educator / IV Therapy Trainer
Infusion Clinic Manager or Specialty Pharmacy Technician Lead

Lateral Moves:

Sterile Compounding/Pharmacy Technician
Vascular Access Specialist / PICC Team Member

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Prepare, label, and compound IV admixtures and parenteral solutions in compliance with USP <797>/<800>, institutional policies, and sterile compounding procedures, ensuring accurate concentration, compatibility checks, and tamper-evident packaging for infusion delivery.
Set up, prime, and troubleshoot infusion pumps (including PCA, elastomeric pumps, ambulatory infusion devices), program infusion parameters per physician orders, and verify alarms and pump function during therapy to prevent infusion errors.
Perform and document venipuncture, peripheral IV insertion, blood draws, and midline/PICC dressing changes when certified, using aseptic technique and ultrasound guidance support as required.
Implement catheter maintenance protocols for central venous catheters (PICC, tunneled catheters, port-a-caths) including dressing changes, sterile line access/flushes, heparin/saline management, and coordinated care to reduce CLABSI risk.
Reconstitute and prepare chemotherapy and hazardous drug infusions following USP <800> and institutional hazardous drug handling policies, including proper PPE use, containment, and disposal.
Verify medication orders and infusion instructions against physician orders and electronic health record (EHR) entries; escalate discrepancies to pharmacists or nursing staff before administration.
Monitor patients receiving IV therapy for signs of infusion reactions, extravasation, phlebitis, infiltration, or adverse medication events; initiate emergency response protocols and collaborate with nursing/physician teams when needed.
Maintain accurate, contemporaneous documentation in electronic medical records (EHR) and infusion documentation systems for all IV-related procedures, medication preparation, administration assistance, and patient status notes.
Conduct routine inspection, cleaning, calibration, and preventative maintenance of IV-related equipment (infusion pumps, IV poles, warming devices, compounding isolators) and coordinate repairs with biomedical engineering or vendors.
Manage sterile supplies, medications, and inventory levels in the IVCU/infusion suite: receive shipments, check expiration dates, rotate stock (FIFO), and coordinate restocking to ensure uninterrupted infusion services.
Perform compatibility checks, prepare back-up doses, and batch compounding for high-volume infusion clinics while maintaining chain-of-custody and traceability for controlled substances.
Educate patients and caregivers on home infusion devices, pump programming basics, line care, signs/symptoms to report, and safe disposal of sharps and residual medication following discharge or home infusion setup.
Participate in multidisciplinary rounds, infusion clinic huddles, and case reviews to optimize scheduling, reduce wait times, and coordinate complex infusion regimens (biologics, immunoglobulin, antimicrobials).
Maintain compliance with regulatory standards (Joint Commission, state board of health, OSHA, USP) by participating in audits, quality improvement initiatives, and corrective action planning related to IV therapy processes.
Execute point-of-care testing (as authorized) related to infusion monitoring (e.g., basic glucose checks, INR coordination) and coordinate specimen collection and transport for lab monitoring tied to infusion therapy.
Support sterile field setup for bedside vascular access procedures and assist vascular access teams or interventional radiology staff during PICC placements or port access when requested.
Participate in adverse event reporting, root cause analyses, and implementation of process improvements to minimize medication errors and infusion complications.
Train and mentor new IVCU Technicians, cross-train floor staff on infusion pump basics and safe IV handling, and maintain competency checklists and certifications for the unit.
Coordinate with pharmacy for time-critical medications, STAT infusions, and specialty drug handling to ensure prompt preparation and delivery to bedside or clinic chairs.
Ensure safe handling and disposal of biohazardous waste, chemotherapy waste, and sharps according to facility and regulatory requirements; complete waste logs and return manifests as required.
Assist with billing documentation and charge capture for infusion services by accurately coding procedure entries, medication dispensing records, and duration-of-infusion notes.
Support clinical research and infusion-related trials by following protocol-specific preparation and documentation standards, maintaining investigational drug accountability logs, and participating in study visits as needed.
Participate in ongoing education, professional development, and certification maintenance (IV therapy certification, phlebotomy, sterile compounding) to keep skills current with evolving IV therapy best practices.

Secondary Functions

Support scheduling, intake triage, and pre-visit screening for infusion patients to optimize chair utilization and workflow.
Assist with data collection for infusion metrics (dwell times, CLABSI rates, pump downtime) and contribute to continuous quality improvement projects.
Maintain and update quick-reference protocols, checklists, and visual aids for common infusion regimens and emergency extravasation procedures.
Contribute to the development and review of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for IV processes and sterile compounding.
Provide cross-coverage for related departments (pharmacy sterile compounding, vascular access team) during peak periods or staffing shortages.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Sterile compounding and aseptic technique (experience with USP <797>/<800> compliant workflows).
IV admixture preparation, reconstitution, and labeling accuracy for parenteral medications.
Infusion pump programming, troubleshooting, and basic maintenance (smart pumps, PCA, elastomeric devices).
Peripheral IV insertion and venipuncture (phlebotomy) — certified or demonstrable competency.
Central line care (PICC/port dressing changes, flushing protocols) and catheter maintenance procedures.
Safe handling of hazardous drugs and chemotherapy preparation protocols.
Basic ECG rhythm recognition and identification of infusion-related emergencies (anaphylaxis, extravasation).
Electronic health record (EHR) documentation, medication administration records (MAR), and infusion documentation systems.
Inventory management, medication storage requirements (refrigeration, controlled substance handling), and supply chain coordination.
Point-of-care testing and specimen collection coordination for infusion-related monitoring.
Infection prevention and CLABSI reduction strategies, including scrub-the-hub and chlorhexidine bathing protocols.
Familiarity with regulatory standards (Joint Commission, OSHA, USP) and local/state policies governing IV therapy.

Soft Skills

Strong patient-centered communication with the ability to explain procedures, set expectations, and provide compassionate care during infusions.
Detail-oriented with rigorous adherence to checklists, double-checks, and safety protocols to prevent medication errors.
Collaborative team player who coordinates seamlessly with nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and vascular access specialists.
Critical thinking and rapid problem-solving under pressure (e.g., addressing pump alarms, infusion reactions).
Time management and workflow prioritization in high-volume infusion clinics to reduce delays and maintain throughput.
Teaching and mentoring ability to train new technicians, students, and cross-trained staff on best practices.
Professionalism, confidentiality, and ability to maintain composure during clinical emergencies.
Initiative and continuous improvement mindset for process optimization and quality improvement projects.
Adaptability to changing drug protocols, new infusion technologies, and evolving regulatory requirements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required; completion of an accredited IV Therapy or Phlebotomy certification program preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree in Nursing, Allied Health, Pharmacy Technology, or related clinical field.
Formal certifications such as Certified IV Therapy Technician, Phlebotomy Certification, or Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT) with sterile compounding experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Nursing (ADN, LPN pathways)
Pharmacy Technician or Pharmaceutical Sciences
Medical Assisting / Allied Health
Clinical Laboratory Science / Phlebotomy

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–4 years of direct experience in IV therapy, infusion centers, sterile compounding pharmacy, or vascular access teams.

Preferred:

2+ years in infusion clinic or hospital IVCU setting with documented experience in central line maintenance, infusion pump operation, and USP-compliant sterile compounding.
Experience with oncology/chemotherapy infusion, biologics, immunoglobulin, or specialty pharmacy infusion workflows is highly desirable.