Helping for easier IV access.

[lpnstudentin2010]

I do not think that this is looking for medical advise. If it is I apologize and mods feel free to close.

I need to have an MRI on the 9th. I am going to need an IV. I am a hard stick. I am planning to drink lots that day and for 30 mins to 1 hour before I am scheduled I plan to tape hand warmers on to my inner elbows and the back of my hands (since those are the most common places).

I was wondering is there anything else I can do to make it easier for the person who needs to put it in?

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

One more hint is to get a rubber ball or tennis ball and squeeze it whenever you aren't using your hand. This will help build up the surface veins. It works.

[CritterLover, BSN, RN]

meg,

[color=#a0522d]hope all went well today. i have a suggestion for you, but fell asleep this morning before i could hit the "submit" button.

[color=#a0522d]so, for next time: i agree with the others before me that anxiety can contribute to you being a hard stick.

[color=#a0522d]anxious people tend to take a sharp deep breath in, and hold it, when they are stuck. they tense up, and can make their veins spasm.

[color=#a0522d]what i try to get them to do, is take a "big deep breath in" as i'm getting ready to stick, and then "blow it out" as i stick. it helps keep the vein from spasming.

[color=#a0522d]regarding the use of lidocaine: while i agree it would be good for rns to use lidocaine before starting ivs, i have never worked anywhere that allowed rns to do that while starting a peripheral iv (it has actually be against stated policy). crnas could (of course), and rns could while placing piccs, but not for regular "short" ivs. so, depending on the part of the country you are in (these things tend to be regional), insisting on lido prior to an iv start might not get you very far.

[color=#a0522d]i also totally agree with the exercise suggestion -- moderate weight lifting/squeezing tennis balls will do amazing things for your veins! when you build up muscles, blood supply comes with it.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

THanks for all the tips you guys. Some people thought it is today that I was having this done. It is actually in a little over a week from now on the 9th, I am just planning and getting ready for it.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

Well I go tomorrow for the MRI. I will be trying all of your guys ideas. Thanks alot. I will let you know how it went.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

Well, it was not my best IV start experience. But I now know where I have one really good vein, my right foot. They had tried twice in my right hand, once in the left then went for the foot.

The nurses (I had 2 with me trying to get it, though one of them was also supporting me) were very nice and felt really bad about sticking me so much, especially because I was crying, but I explained to them it was not the IV itself, it was the needle because I was afraid.

Even with thinking about it I ended up holding my breath, so the one that was supporting me kept reminding me I needed to breath.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

OK i realized that last post sounded kind of complainy...it actually was not all that bad. The two nurses I had with me were SO nice and caring. They truly felt bad having to stick me so much but all 3 of us knew I needed it so they just kept going. And it is good they did, I now know of one REALLY good vein I have, that one in my foot, the second they took off my sock they knew they had hit pay dirt, so to speak.