As a patient, is it okay to suggest a vein for IV?

[Lahryn04]

Hey guys this is my first post so bear with me! So my question is this... Is it offensive to ask the nurse starting my IV as a patient in the hospital to stick a certain vein? Long story short, I was recently admitted to a hospital I used to work at 3 days post lap chole with a fever of 103 (another story altogether). I was there a total of 4 days and had 5 IVs with about 14 sticks altogether. The 5th time they had to restart my IV I asked my nurse for a warm blanket and a tourniquet so that I could find the good veins I knew I had. She was very cool about it and let me do it and said she was going to get another nurse to start it because she wasn't that good. I am an RN and most of the nurses there knew me. I am also the nurse on my unit that the others come to for tough IV sticks, so I know a bit about this topic. Anyway the nurse came in to start the line and I, very politely of course, asked if she wouldn't mind considering the vein I had found. She said "no no let mgr look at both your arms" and telling me how long she's been doing this and how she was extremely good at hard sticks. Then she proceeded to stick this teensy little vein in my hand and couldn't even get a flash. I understand there are days you just can't get an IV, I've been there and it frustrates the hell out of me, but I feel like she should have at least considered my opinion considering all the previous sticks. The next nurse came in, took my advice and got it. It was the the last IV they had to start on me during that admission. I'm just wondering if my feelings are valid and would you do the same thing? How would/did you feel if/when this happened to you? Thanks in advance for the input and I'm sorry if this is really a silly question!

[caliotter3]

I told them where the IV had failed the previous day so they wouldn't be tempted to start it there again. I see nothing wrong with trying to save someone some time and trouble and yourself some discomfort.

[Florence NightinFAIL, BSN, RN]

It's your body. You know it best, most of the time.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I love letting patients tell me where they like to have their IV. Satisfies the whole "involve the patient in decision making" thing and I get the IV start done. With that said:

There are times I'm just not confident in starting them where they want them. It's not because I don't think they know what they are doing or anything. I just don't always "see" it where they do. They might be pointing out a vein I'm just not comfortable going after, and I hate having to do multiple sticks. And, truth is, if you want your RN getting it in first try, you want them feeling comfortable too. Comfortable going for a vein you have confidence in goes a long way towards reaching the goal of "1st try access" IV starts.

If I see something I'm more comfortable in, I tell them so. Then I leave the decision up to them: "I like here, but I'll try your spot if you prefer, but I might miss. I think I have a better chance if go for here. If you like that spot though, I will go where you like, but I'm not as confident with it and might have to try more than once." Its about 50/50, some let me pick, others stick to their guns. But they appreciate having their input respected and all is well.

[merlee]

I am a very hard stick, and try to gently point out the obvious places.

I was an IV therapist for a number of years, and tried to listen to the patients' suggestions. Especially IV drug users. They always knew where the only good spots were!

[caliotter3]

I am a very hard stick, and try to gently point out the obvious places.

I was an IV therapist for a number of years, and tried to listen to the patients' suggestions. Especially IV drug users. They always knew where the only good spots were!

I was going to suggest not being too enthusiastic about your suggestions, to avoid the idea that there is a reason why you are so knowledgeable, but I thought better of that comment!

[Lahryn04]

Haha thought the same thing about the drug users! I almost always trust their advice! Fortunately I am not one of them! I am however obsessed with starting IVs and in turn notice everyones veins before even their face (well maybe that's a bit exaggerated but close)! Maybe I'm just a freak but I love it!

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Veins grow to feed muscles. Since I've always worked with my hands, the veins on the back of my hands could easily holds 12 or 14 gauge iv's. Many people go straight for the antecubital, and I point out the viens on my hands, but make it clear that it's up to them to stick where they're most comfortable.

When my patients make a suggestion, I look where they want. If I see a site I like better, I ask their permission to do it my way.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Of course it is ok to make a suggestion. I love it when my patients suggest the best places. When I have to get labs drawn, most of the time the nurse will ask me where the best vein is to either start an IV or draw labs.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

I am a very hard stick, and try to gently point out the obvious places.

I was an IV therapist for a number of years, and tried to listen to the patients' suggestions. Especially IV drug users. They always knew where the only good spots were!

that reminds me of that one episode of Scrubs where I believe it was JD couldn't find a vein so he called a drug user and the drug user found a good one almost immediately. I thought it was hilarious when the drug user said I found a good one right here and put it in. LOL

I always listen to my patients unless like Eriksoln said I don't feel comfortable in doing it.

When I am a patient, I always tell them where I want it, I even scrub the area myself.

[Ellekat2]

I always listen/ look at the site a patient is recommending. Besides drug users, there are many with chronic conditions that require periodic IV's. They know where the good viens are! But if I can't see or feel the vein the patient is recommending, I'll tell them what I see/feel and go where I think I can get the IV on that day.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I suggest all the time: I tell them that this or that site usually works the best but wherever they need to stick me is fine. Most of the time they'll follow my suggestions.