Where do you prefer an IV?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This thought was triggered by the IV size discussion at https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/size-matters-iv-836846.html

If you are a patient, where would you prefer an IV to be placed? Personally, I can keep my arm straight if it's my off side, and I am not a fan of hand vein IVs for myself, so an AC for me please.

Anywhere but my hand!

Specializes in ICU.

Forearm. Preferably on the non-dominant limb.

I prefer AC of my non dominant arm.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Rehab.

I've only had one IV and it was in my AC. I was afraid to even move the arm. Its a last resort for me because if we can't get one in the AC, we can't go further down the same arm.

I really like the inner wrist, by the thumb. That vein pops on a lot of people and it doesn't infiltrate a lot. Some people have great forearm veins though and I will attempt one if it pops out at me.

Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

As a nurse it depends what I'm using it for! If I'm desperate ill take what i can get even if that means AC, but for a PIV I'm a big fan if forearms and wrists if possible. One of my colleagues needed one bad yesterday for an elderly 90lb lady who was vomiting and I snuck a 22 just Above her AC :) sometimes you can't be picky but you do the best you can with what you got.

Specializes in Neuro, Trauma, and Psych.

Hand! This was actually a secret concern when I went to deliver my daughter. Thank goodness my nurse went straight for my hand. I have never had one in my forearm but that would have been ok too. I'm too ADHD to be continuously mindful of an IV in my AC

Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I posted this back on the size discussion, but my experiences both as a medical person and as a patient have steered me for a distinct preference for the forearm, even if I have to go on the back side at a funny angle to get one of the more obscure ones. I've found hands to be positional and blow easily, and the AC is even more positional even if it's theoretically a more stable site. I also don't know if it's still taught, but way back when we were told if the AC was used and blew, we'd basically blown the opportunity for anything distal. So I generally start as distal on the forearm as I can get a good site.

Specializes in Pedi.

Left forearm. Now, I have a giant left AC that never fails me so if it's short term, I'll let them go there. When I have my MRIs, that's typically the spot they use and since it's only staying in for 45 minutes, I don't mind. When I had my wisdom teeth out, they insisted on using this skinny squiggly vein in my right hand... even after I said "my best veins are on the left"... the doctor's response was "we have to use the hand and I have to do this side because this is the side I'm standing on." Once he got it in, he gave me Versed so I forgot about my objections... I did have a bruise for like a week though.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I love placing in the AC :D

I can start them the best on myself in the Forearm and if i had to have one for awhile I imagine thats where I would want it.

Whenever I insert an IV, I first look for a good site away from where the arm, wrist, or hand bends. Hands are sensitive, so I avoid those if possible. The best ones are often the sites that nobody else has beaten to death.

Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

Forearm. I have some really good veins in my forearm and they last. every IV I have had in my wrist, hand and AC has blown within 24 hours. Unless I have to have IV antibiotics and then I am asking for a PICC

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

forearm

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