An IV question

shudokan-RN · Jan 24, 2003

yes to first question, and I hope not to the second

KC CHICK · Jan 24, 2003

Yes...always use standard precautions when doing anything with or to a patient....ALWAYS!

No, I dont' have many 'blood lettings' if I can help it.

When you get the catheter threaded and needle retracted, put pressure on the vein/catheter just above the puncture site - release the tournequet - and ask the patient to raise his/her hand or arm if they are able. This really helps to decrease the bleeding and you can attach the lock without being "rushed". I've not had much bleeding even with patients on heparin or coumadin when I ask them to do that.

And...just in case there is some bleeding, I always lay that paper under their arm..the one that comes with our start kits. A chux would work great if you're a beginner.

Anne:nurse:

tiger · Jan 24, 2003

i sometimes wear gloves. i apply pressure at the site where the catheter is at to stop the blood flow while i attach the line tubing. i always put a pillow under the arm in case i make a mess.

Sick&Pregnant · Jan 24, 2003

I'm not a nurse......just a patient. I had 3 nurses this past week start IVs without washing their hands or wearing gloves. They also let me bleed heavily onto the floor/bed. It just seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to catch an infection and it really scared me.

KC CHICK · Jan 24, 2003

Don't hesitate to say something to your nurse if they don't wear gloves. As far as not seeing them wash up, they could have done that before entering the room...can always ask about that too.

There is no excuse for them not to be wearing gloves!

Glad2behere · Jan 24, 2003

Wow, they must have an affinity for Hep C.

bagladyrn, RN · Jan 24, 2003

Sick & Pregnant - Just a little reassurance - I'm sure it looks like "a lot of blood" when it's your own (a few cc's looks like more on a chux). If I'm trying to start an iv on someone who is a difficult stick, getting the iv in is first priority - you are not losing a significant amount of blood in the few seconds it takes to connect the tubing to the iv catheter.

Don't hesitate to ask the nurse if she has washed her hands if this is a concern for you. As said above, you will probably find out she did so before entering your room. And the nurse not wearing gloves increases her chance of infection, not yours.

fab4fan · Jan 24, 2003

I had a feeling about this question...

Address your concerns to the nurse that is taking care of you. If he/she isn't wearing gloves, insist that he/she wear them.

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought this site was for nurses to communicate with nurses, not for lay people to come in to seek medical advice/opinions. This isn't the first time "Sick and Pregnant" has posted with a "What do you think about this...?" question; makes me feel like there's a "fishing expedition" going on here. Don't mean to seem unkind, but this seems inappropriate to me.

ayemmeff · Jan 24, 2003

Originally posted by fab4fan
I had a feeling about this question...

Address your concerns to the nurse that is taking care of you. If he/she isn't wearing gloves, insist that he/she wear them.

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought this site was for nurses to communicate with nurses, not for lay people to come in to seek medical advice/opinions.

Good point Terri. You think someone is looking for "ammo" to get her nurse into trouble??

"well i asked round,and the nurses at Allnurses said......yadayadayada!!!"

fab4fan · Jan 24, 2003

Originally posted by ayemmeff
Good point Terri. You think someone is looking for "ammo" to get her nurse into trouble??

Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking, especially after I went back and looked at the other posts by this individual. I'm not sure what the objective is, but these questions need to be directed to the appropriate people.

Go back into "search", and you'll see what I mean.

ayemmeff · Jan 24, 2003

See what you mean