just a little vent

[MIA-RN1]

OK so they don't teach us IV's in nursing school.

And the IV part of my orientation involved a booklet and a big rubber hose-type thing to practice on.

And I am on a floor where we rarely if ever put IV's in, meaning only a couple nurses know how to do them anyway.

And during mandatories last week, there wasn't anyone showing how to do IV's.

So today I have a pt who HAS to have an IV stat to start some mag.

So, because I have done all of ONE IV in my life, I go to the labor floor, where they put them in all the time.

I say "you guys are the pros. I need help. I've only done this once before"

What do they say?

"No."

I gulped back my tears (yeah I was a bit stressed at this point, pt was NOT doing well.). "But I've only ever done one"

"We were told that you (collective YOU meaning all the PP nurses) have to try first."

FIne, I said and went away. Meanwhile wondering how the HE** I am supposed to try without even knowing WHAT FREAKING SUPPLIES I need to start the damn thing, what size catheter, and how the heck to put that tape on the right way over the wingy-things.

So I go to one nurse on my floor who is usually quite willing to teach. And she said "Have faith in yourself and try"

Well, she must have seen the look on my face because she made up an excuse to come into the room and talked me thru it.

I don't mind poking people, I love drawing blood. But I didn't know what the heck to do after I got the catheter in. I haven't mastered the four-hands needed to hold it still and then get the little blue cap on and all that damn weird way of taping.

So then I find out ok, I have to hang a bolus dose of Mag Sulfate, which I have NEVER done and I am NOT going to risk doing it wrong. Luckily a labor nurse was manning the nursery and said she'd come help me. (I love her). (Labor nurses are the ones who usually start the mag when the pt comes to triage)

Anyway, she said, first get an extension tubing set on there.

And more near-tears "A WHAT?" I said.

She talked me thru it, showed me how to program the bolus and then how to switch it to continuous (did I mention we rarely if ever use pumps but for mag. pts?)

Oh man, I felt like crying for that whole time and even now. Its just so frustrating not knowing how to do something and having people tell you "Just do it". SUre fine whatever. I have no trouble trying. But I didn't KNOW how to Just do it!

there. I still feel frustrated but a little better.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Glad I could help! These tips work really well on squirming screaming little ones, so you should be able to use them quite well with your (generally) cooperative and well-hydrated adult OB patients.

[PANurseRN1]

This is the kind of post that saddens me. The worst time to try to get practice starting an IV is in an emergency situation. Shame on those co-workers who wouldn't help you.

Is there any possibility you could spend the day in outpatient surgery. I work there (as well as ED) and we start TONS of IVs every day. You'd get plenty of practice on relatively healthy people in a non-emergent situation.

Good for you for pushing past your anxiety and doing the IV. As far as connecting and taping, that's something you just develop over time. Everyone has his/her own way of doing it. It's funny, I can always tell who started an IV I'm D/C'ing just by how it's taped...kind of like a signature.

[KellNY, RN]

Now, I'm not advocating this ::cough cough:: but I did my 1st three IV starts (including the wacky taping) on #1-My boyfriend at the time #2 My sister #3 My father.

[jjjoy, LPN]

I feel your pain. To hear "just do it" when you don't know what to do just sucks! A little sympathy can go a long way for me. And a very patient person to talk me through it.

Another way to practice the juggling part of advancing the catheter and taping it down is to start an IV on a banana. Start it on the rounded side. It won't lie flat on a table so you have to keep a good hold it on like you would on a person. It gives that similar all thumbs feeling. And you can poke it again and again with the same used equipment.