I feel that there is a lot of inconsistency in the current regulations. Only an LVT can place a catheter, however a trained assistant may give IV injections. An assistant may scale teeth as long as it is not subgingival. An unlicensed assistant  is even able to monitor for anesthesia. I feel that allowing trained staff to do very basic tasks like placing an IV catheters allows LVTs to do what they really went to school for which should be intubating, performing dental cleanings, taking care of sick patients, etc. Even if assistants were allowed to place IV catheters (in relatively healthy pets) I would still hire LVTs to train staff and perform many of the other extremely important things we do in a hospital.