Newbie Question about "Blown Veins"
Register Today!-
This is a discussion on Newbie Question about "Blown Veins" in Infusion Nursing / Intravenous Nursing, part of Nursing Specialties ... Forgive me for asking such a basic question, but I am a new nurse and cannot find an answer...
by jsinr Jul 27, '05Forgive 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!
Print and share with friends and family.
Compliments of allnurses.com.
http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=113557©2013 allnurses.com INC. All Rights Reserved. - 56,329 Views
-
Jul 27, '05 by Tweety"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. - Guide
Jul 27, '05 by Spidey's momQuote from Tweety(Did you ever think about becoming a teacher?)"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.
steph
- Jul 27, '05 by TweetyQuote from stevielynn:imbar(Did you ever think about becoming a teacher?)
steph
(don't you need a BSN for that?) - Aug 1, '05 by BinkeyDear JSINR,
"Blowing" a vein can occur from several things...
1. Using too large of an IV catheter. INS standards say that one should always use the smallest gauge and length IV catheter possible for the prescribed therapy.
2. Your angle of insertion is importnat as well. The elderly population have had many age related changes with their skin and blood vessels. Because their vessels are more superficial (secondary to loss of SQ tissue) you may need to insert your device at a very shallow 5-10 degree angle.
3. In addition, 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...
Quote from jsinrForgive 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! - Aug 1, '05 by chattypattyCRNA2BQuote from TweetyI love your modesty.:imbar
(don't you need a BSN for that?) -
- Aug 1, '05 by mandrewsQuote from BinkeyGood info Binkey as a new nurse I find IV's frustrating, and I am not getting alot of practice on my floor.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...
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 - Aug 1, '05 by BinkeyMelissa,
Yes, It is good to advance your IV catheters a mm or so more after you've gained successful entry into the vein as your needle protrudes further out than your catheter, so when you get a flashback your needle may be in the tunica intima, but your catheter may not be. It is a good idea, however, to lower your angle once you've achieved successful entry so you don't advance through the opposite wall of the vein.
Best wishes in your Nursing Journey! :blushkiss - Aug 1, '05 by enfermeraSGQuote from mandrewsMelissa, are you saying that you have better luck if you advance a little further after flashback? If so, then that is absolutely what is minimizing your chances of blowing that IV. The reason is because when you initially see flashback it doesn't mean that the entire tip of the angiocath needle has entered the vein yet. You have to advance it a touch further so that the entire tip/bevel is inside the vein. Otherwise, when you advance the catheter itself - it does not have enough needle in the vein to guide it in. SGGood 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
