IV left in arm after discharge

[mariok]

A pt of mine was discharged and their IV was never taken out. Has this ever happened to anyone else? What did you do? This is my 5th week of orientation. I've been a nurse since September and have not previously had experience with IVs as I was working in a SNF. I'm so embarrassed and don't even want to go back to work because of this mistake. I feel awful

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I work on the ambulance and I have been called more than a couple times for this exact situation. It happens, you just hope they aren't putting anything in it, like narcotics, and have them return or have an ALS ambulance go there to d/c it.

Annie

[mariok]

He was an older gentleman who was very confused. He went home with his son. His son called several hours later about the IV and was very mad, saying he was going to administration about it. I'm just really nervous over this

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

No harm done. It's difficult to discharge confused patients. Don't beat yourself up more than 5 minutes and then forget about it.

[brownbook]

I'm assuming it was a saline lock, not the whole IV tubing and a bag of fluid?????

In out patient surgery it occurs at least once a year, saline locks, not the whole tubing and bag. It has never been made a big issue. The patient or family was asked to come back. I can't remember, or don't know, what happened if they lived far away or couldn't return?

It's pure luck it's never happened to me, and I'm certain it never happen to you again!

[Axgrinder]

Mistakes happen. Things get busy, and you are new to the job. We can't be perfect, although we all try to be. Cut yourself some slack.

[Alex_RN, BSN]

It happens but it won't happen to you ever again, so honestly try to see that as a plus. My colleagues have discharged people still wearing telemetry boxes, IVs, etc. Like I said, it happens. Often patients get dressed and you come back and their arms are covered and you don't notice.

You get into a habit of doing it when you discharge someone. At my work, if you see someone getting discharged by another nurse, you offer to remove the IV and tele box if you have time to help. You don't want to remove it too early in case they need another Ativan or Dilaudid before they are transported.

Fun fact #1: If someone is on blood thinners, you really need to take your time and apply pressure to the IV site for a few minutes after you remove the IV.

Fun fact #2: IV drug abusers will try to keep the IV, or worse, central line, and leave before you can remove it.

Try to relax. This is very, very minor. For newbie errors, this is pretty mild.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

He was an older gentleman who was very confused. He went home with his son. His son called several hours later about the IV and was very mad, saying he was going to administration about it. I'm just really nervous over this

Son sounds like an *******.

Either way we attempt to call the pt, if they dont answer they get a visit from the police. These things happen its not a huge deal, as long as he didn't go home and shoot up directly into it, which it sounds like he didn't.

[Munch]

Who was with the man to take him home? The times its slipped my mind or it was taking too long to take it out the patient or their family member reminded me. Obviously they don't want go home with it. Obviously this man was confused and it got by their family member that was with them but I wouldn't worry about it. No harm no foul.

I agree with That Guy..son sounds like a real jerk with too much time on his hands. Ive also had patients go AMA and pulled out the lock themselves. If his son was so concerned with the lock being in his dads arm he could take it out himself(wouldn't recommend it I would try to get them to come in) if it was that much of a nuisance to his confused father who probably doesn't even notice it.

[NurseCard, ADN]

It happens. Don't beat yourself up over it.

[Ddestiny, BSN, RN]

I think it helps to make certain things a habit. When I'm DCing someone I make a point of taking the DC papers and scripts into the pt room along with the 2x2 and coband I use to DC IVs. So I associate bringing all of that into the room together, which helps me to avoid forgetting the IVs. In the beginning I would write down each step in a process so I wouldn't forget (i.e. write a list for: Finish DC papers, scripts, DC IV and document, DC note, DC out of system, etc). This is especially helpful (for me, at least) when I'm DCing someone but also have a bunch of other things going on simultaneously to keep from getting frazzled and forgetful).

[MunoRN, RN]

It actually happens quite a bit. I have worked on floors where more half the floor is discharged every day, usually with admits already waiting for their rooms, so discharging is a bit of shitshow. Patients often get on their street clothes as soon as they hear they are getting discharged that day, and then it's often assumed a patient wearing street clothes doesn't have any IVs in place.

There was one place I've worked where we had them come into the ER do get it removed, at every other place I've worked we just tell them to pull it out and put a Band-Aid on it, and to hold the Band-Aid for a couple of minutes.