Nurses General Nursing
Published Nov 12, 2002
ohbet
386 Posts
Ive always read that venipuncture to the foot has a high rate of phlebitis,and recently , at the LTC facility where I work, phlebitis occured to someone with an IV to her foot.
Wouldnt it be a good idea to require an MD order for a foot venipuncture? Our facility doesnt require it,does yours? Is this a stupid idea?
baseline
581 Posts
Yes....a doctors order would be a great idea for a foot IV and is anywhere I have worked.
Rena RN 2003, RN
635 Posts
gotta have a dr. order to do a foot IV at our facility
Wow,two replies with MD orders for foot IV,I didnt know that.Sometimes I think my facility is stuck in the medievel period
finallyRN
173 Posts
Our hospital also requires MD order for IV in the foot. When we still had our IV team they were the only one allowed to place them as well.
cactus wren
295 Posts
Yuppers, we also have to have a Md.`s order for one in the foot, and also for blood draws there, also.
emily_mom
1,024 Posts
Same here...gotta have a doc.
BBFRN, BSN, PhD
3,779 Posts
We have to have an order in our hospital, too, and a Doc or IV nurse has to place it.
mario_ragucci
1,041 Posts
I'd be aggrivted if someone put an IV in my foot because it would restrict my movements more than a central line (?)
caroladybelle, BSN, RN
5,486 Posts
Mario,
As a general rule, IV/blood draws are done in the feet when there is absolutely no place on the arms where access can be obtained and central line access is contraindicated (hx: PEs, repeated central lines w/clots or extravisation).
I have always obtained an MD order prior to drawing blood/IV start in places other than arms.
As a note, I have had at least 3 patients that had IVs in their chests/breasts due to lack of viable sites and hx of clots/phlebitis in all extremities. Scary!!!!!!
CMERN
150 Posts
Gotta have a doc order were I work... too
BadBird, BSN, RN
1,126 Posts
I have always worked where a doctors order was needed for IV or blood draws in the foot. Usually if they are that difficult we pester the docs for a central line.