IV tips and tricks

wowwwwww! thanks for the site info. i really apreciate it, any tips to help us.

Don't tie your tourniquet too tight on patients with big ropes...you'll risk blowing the vein.

When you don't succeed the first time, try sometime different the second time...change arms, try a smaller cath, move the tourniquet higher or lower...

just a thought- when I was a student, I read an article about IV starts which recommended with elderly/frail people that a tourniquet NOT be used. I have had several successes this way. My most proud stick was a 97-yo teeny oncology pt, no tourniquet and it went in the first time. I have used this method on other pts also. My instructor was leery but it worked.

WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE LITTLE OLD LADIES WHO HAVE NO VEINS, YOU CAN RUB BETADINE ON THE SKIN AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING HIDING BECAUSE IT KIND OF LOOKS BLUE. ALSO APPLYING WARM COMPRESSES HELPS ALOT.

Before I would use any of the tips, I would make sure they are the standards of the INS. That is what standard you are going to be held to. First, Alcohol is not the standard for cleaning it is chloroprep.

Second the hand should not be used with vesicants and should be avoid for IVs to stay in place due to possible damage. The acutual practice is the smaller the needle the less damage to the vessel.

There are many chagnes with IV Therapy and if I was educating staff, I would make sure you follow the right standards.

Thanks for all those very helpful tips. I am a third semester ADN Student and we will have IV Lab next week.After that we will be let loose to try our luck on poor unexpecting L&D patients.

As you may guess from my screenname, I am a pediatric RN in the ER, I work at a level 1 trauma center.

Anyway here is something I use to help start IV
I hope I don't get in trouble for recommending this
http://www.copquest.com/10-2270.htm

This helps illuminate the veins in preemies, and many old and young alike. It works well in all skin colors. It doesn't work well in obese patients, but is great usually for chubby lttle 1 year old rolly poly.

tourniquet above and below a questionable site helps sometimes on those "used up" arms.

If I have a curvey vein or one that is deep and down under I will bend my cannula in the direction I'm going. the slightist bend can get it in the right place.

L&D patient have the nicest vein to first start on.

We used to called it the "cheater" for the same reason. Also, those frail veins on the inner lower forearm just above the wrist. Anyone can hit them.