Newbie Question about "Blown Veins"

"Blowing a vein" is a term we use primarily when we're starting IV's. "It took me two tries, the first time I blew a vein". You've puctured the venous wall not only with your initial puncture but at another site. Sometimes you can tell immediately as the blood leaves the vein swelling and discoloration occur. Sometimes you don't know until you flush the IV with normal saline and the site swells. Swelling is what you look for.

Look up "infiltration" and "extravasation" in your textbooks.

(Did you ever think about becoming a teacher?)

steph

Forgive me for asking such a basic question, but I am a new nurse and cannot find an answer anywhere. Seriously I have checked all my textbooks and online for an answer.

What exactly does it mean to "blow a vein"? What exactly is going on with the vessel? How whould I know that I blew a vein? What are the complications of a blown vein? How can I prevent blowing a vein when performing veinapuncture?

Thanks!

(don't you need a BSN for that?)

I love your modesty.

Dear JSINR,
once you've gained successful enry into your vessel and you've advanced your catheter's hub to insertion, release your tourniquet.
You also should pay attention to how tight your tourniquet is on the pt.
Elderly pt's usually require light tourniquet application to keep from blowing the vein.
Hope this helps...

Good info Binkey as a new nurse I find IV's frustrating, and I am not getting alot of practice on my floor.
One thing that I noticed is after I get the flashback if i advance just a little further I don't blow the vein as if I do not. Does anyone else find this to be the case?

melissa