D/Cing an IV

[happynurse49]

So do any of your veteran nurses have any tips on how to help me with this? I was at clinicals today and my RN asked me to d/c an IV on a patient. I have done this in lab but never on a real patient. I think the tape they use at school isn't nearly as sticky as the tape used in real life! Lol. So I was trying to pull the tape off and I was pulling it toward the IV site, I would get one part of the tape up and try for another part and the first part would stick again. I ended up moving the part that goes into the skin all around and I think it was uncomfortable for my patient. Should I have held the IV in place with my left hand and attempted to pull of the tape with my right? Those nurses putting in IV's for surgery sure know how to tape them so they don't come out:) Any tricks of the trade that would help me in the future would be really appreciated.

[happynurse49, BSN]

Thank you so much for all your tricks of the trade. Next week I am going to definitely have some alcohol pads with me and be sure to stabilize the catheter. I think it would be a little easier if I just had one more hand:) lol

[RunBabyRN]

Thank you so much for all your tricks of the trade. Next week I am going to definitely have some alcohol pads with me and be sure to stabilize the catheter. I think it would be a little easier if I just had one more hand:) lol

You'll learn how to be a two-handed octopus in no time! :) There are ALWAYS times I wish I had 4 hands. All the more reason teamwork is important.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

The sticky tape... when you pull it off, fold it under to stick to itself so it won't stick to the pt.

About the gauze: always have the tape pre-cut and the gauze open before you start wiith the pt so you don't have to fumble around when the tape/IV afterwards.

Arm hair: if the hair lays down to the right, pull the tape from the left to the right (go with the grain). It's MUCH less painful!