An IV question

Nurses General Nursing

Published

A couple of questions? :)

When you are putting in an IV, do you wash your hands first and wear gloves?

When you have gotten the needle in the vein, do you routinely let the vein/catheter sit there and bleed tons of blood out before you get the saline fastened on?

Thank you!

So....you're saying that an original post can't lead to other areas of conversation as well?? That happens with every thread on this board. I agree with you, that the patient herself is not at any higher risk if the nurse doesn't wear gloves. The nurse, however, is playing russian roulette.

That's great if you can be 100% SURE that YOUR patients don't have HIV or Hep B. (The Hep B vaccination is only 70-80% effective I believe...anyone know for sure?)

I think that's a luxury most healthcare workers dream about.

Anne:D

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

on a personal note, I would rather a nurse starting an IV on me (no insist,really) wear gloves, no exceptions. It's just one more step in precautions designed to protect us all. A nurse who won't bother w/gloves in IV starts, or other potentially infectious situations has my doubts as to her habits in infection control, period. I call such practices to question in my mind! It DOES serve to protect her, me and the staff around her. That is the fact.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Sometimes an IV is so good, and the blood return so fast, especially with larger IV needles during the capping part, some blood can leak. Doesn't mean one is using bad technique, it just happens.

Believe it or not, there are some nurses who insist they can't start IVs with gloves. Usually they are older, having been in nursing before universal precautions.

But your question seems silly and the answers obvious.

You expected someone to say "yes, I never wash my hands, never use gloves, and it's always my practice to let the patient bleed large amounts of blood."?? Duh..

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It"s kind of scary and very irritating that a non-nursing person would come onto a site that was developed for nurses to air their griefs or whatever, and try to see how they can trip us up! Nursing is a job. It takes dedicated professionals to do it every day. There may be a few of us who don't care, but the majority of us come into work and do our best! We care for you every day and then go home and care for others. Maybe you should try it 24/7 for a while and see how it feels!:(

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If there are so many problems with non-nursing personnel, why isn't this forum "locked". Should we have everyone send a copy of our license to brian so he can give everyone a password to get onto allnurses?? His sponsers probly wouldn't like that too well.

Really, there are only a few non-nursing that post here. There could be countless others that don't log in and watch the threads. You never know who could be looking at this stuff. Just keep that in mind.

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Originally posted by KC CHICK

...and you all wonder why the public's impression of nursing is so bad. Way to go, gave another one the wrong impression that we're all b*tches.

There could have been a more tactfull way to handle the situation. You all ever hear about the Private Messaging system here? Please consider that next time.

Non-nursing people aren't usually used to the "in your face" communication techniques of most nurses.

Sick&Pregnant...don't let these guys run you off. We're not all like that.

I never saw the memo that said ONLY NURSES. I thought everyone was welcome here....non-nursing and "PROFESSIONAL" alike.

Anne:nono:

I think you missed the point a little. It's not that this poster was intruding, but has been asking questions in posts about several issues related to nursing, as if seeking ammo against her care providers while hospitalized. That's all. Nobody cared that she wasn't a nurse, I don't think(?)

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Originally posted by Susy K

Anne,

The patient was asking if SHE was at risk for infection. In my opinion, she was at no higher risk of infection than the normal risk you get with any invasive procedure.

Yes, it's a risk I take, but I have NEVER gotten any blood on my fingers as I occlude the vein while I'm connecting the tubing, and in addition, my patients HepB and HIV status are typically known -being pregnant and all. And I'm vaccinated against Hep B.

Just wanted to add a little comment about the Hep B vaccine....how many of you have had a titer drawn? Just curious, because I have run into MANY nurses who have had the series of vaccinations and have not formed the antibodies...possibly due to innappropriate injection technique.(?) I don't assume I am protected from anything. As far as the glove thing, I don't believe it's a requirement, but a precaution. Most blood donation clinics do not use gloves when accepting donations. But I noticed you said, yes it is a risk I take...WHY? Blood carries more risk factors than say, urine. Never say never. There is always a first time. And I am NOT being catty, just expressing my opinion. :)

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I knew there was a reason why I quit reading this thread after the third post.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I had a titer drawn for Hep B just last July, when I started my current job, also was tested for Hep C. I'm fully vaccinated against Hep B and neg (at that time) for hep c

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I received disciplinary action last July from my last employer regarding things that I had posted here. One of my co-workers thought something I'd posted was inappropriate and turned me in to the DON at work. So, you don't know who's reading these messages. I don't mind giving advice to non- nurses but nurse-lou is not even close to my real name.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by nurse-lou

I received disciplinary action last July from my last employer regarding things that I had posted here. One of my co-workers thought something I'd posted was inappropriate and turned me in to the DON at work. So, you don't know who's reading these messages. I don't mind giving advice to non- nurses but nurse-lou is not even close to my real name.

EEEK think I remember that......someone was rotten to ya.:(

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Okay, I have somehow opened up a huge can of worms here and I apologize again.

I was just wondering why this particular nurse said "I always make a mess" and let blood run everywhere, but others don't make a mess at all. But now that it's been explained to me, I do recall that other nurses seem to hold their finger firm on the needle thing when I hear the "click" (I guess the needle coming out? I don't watch) So in the future I will request that if she can, would she please do that.

I just wanted to know what other nurses typically do, that's all. Why don't we just end this thread here because it is making everyone here uncomfortable.

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