IV Skills Lab
A live, hands-on virtual lab for midwives and birth professionals | AUGUST 27, 2026 | 8:00PM EDT
You know you'll need this skill. Most of us just never got to practice it enough.
Starting an IV isn't optional in this work, it's the skill you reach for during shock, hemorrhage, GBS prophylaxis, or a transport that can't wait. And yet most of us leave school having watched it far more than we've done it.
This is a live, small-group lab built to close that gap. You'll watch the technique demonstrated in real time, then practice it yourself, live, with feedback, not just information you file away and hope to remember later.
FAQs
Do I need a practice arm/vein model to attend?
No, but it’s helpful if you already have access to one. If you don’t have a model, you can still participate using common household alternatives, a banana works well once you’re through the skin, the catheter advances similarly to how it would in a real vein. You can also set up a sponge to practice threading IV tubing. What matters most is that you have something to practice on.
How does this class work online?
This is a live, interactive 90-minute class held via video. You’ll watch Augustine demonstrate venipuncture technique in real time, practice alongside her with your own materials, and get live feedback in a small group setting. It’s not a passive webinar, it’s a live lab, so come ready to participate and get your hands moving.
What do I need to bring?
A standard IV start kit (catheter, tourniquet, tape, alcohol prep), IV tubing and an extension set, and something to practice on, an arm model, a banana, or a sponge setup. Nothing specialized is required. Use what you have access to.
Is this a CEU course?
This lab is not a CEU course.
WHAT WE'RE COVERING
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- IV equipment overview — catheters, tubing, extension sets, what's actually in a start kit and what everything is for.
- Venipuncture technique, demonstrated live
- Live practice, with real-time feedback in a small group setting and no you dont have to poke a real person.
- Fluid dynamics — how IV fluids move once they're in, drip rates, what controls flow
- The 4 risks of isotonic IV fluids, the clinical knowledge every midwife needs before reaching for that bag
- Basic troubleshooting — infiltration, occlusion, no blood return, what to check first when something's not working
What you'll need
This is hands-on, so come ready to practice. You'll need:
​- A couple standard IV start kit (catheter, tourniquet, tape, alcohol prep, gloves)
- IV tubing and an extension set
- Something to practice on. You have options:
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An arm/vein practice model.
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A banana.
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A sponge set up to simulate threading tubing through a vein.
No need to buy anything specialized. Use what you have access to, the technique practice matters more than the prop. We;ll send you specific instructions once youre registered.
Live, small group, recording included
This session is capped to keep it a real small-group lab, not a lecture. You'll get direct feedback on your technique, live. And because we know schedules don't always cooperate, your registration includes the recording to rewatch anytime in the following month.
