100+ attempted IV starts, 3 successes

[crx971]

Last one 2 years ago. I just don't get it. I've tried dozens of IV starts on people with veins of bodybuilders, like veins that are the size of normal person arms. Basically arms that are 99% veins and 1% space between them. Any anxious student with shaky hands can throw a needle blindfolded from 10 ft away and still end up with a perfect IV, and I will be poking and poking and poking... to no avail. This is not a confidence issue, I stopped caring after like 20 fails after realizing this is just not one of my talents, I can't be good at everything. Not a technique issue, I've been through IV courses, IV team education and personal training and everything, know exactly how to do it, but just can't do it. No pressure. Our hospital has an IV team which I call for IV starts, also a bunch of nurses oin the floor who are good at IV starts so I can have IV placed quick without a problem. But sometimes if pt pulls out IV and I'm bored have nothing to do, I'll just grab supplies and try to do it myself even though I don't have to. Semi-comatose patients, or patients who don't care who have excellent bulging veins (anything less than excellent which is 99% of my pts I usually pass on or do 2 max sticks before calling for help)... I'll stick them numerous times, again I feel no pressure of any kind on myself, just pure curiosity... but I just leave them bleeding from multiple holes and with a bunch of massive hematomas. I wonder if I should just stop even trying, I'm just hurting my patients for no reason.

It's like anti-talent or something. I don't know anybody else who would try something so supposedly simple over a hundred times and still not learn how to do it. It's like a part of my brain responsible for whatever coordination/tactile feedback stroked out or something. It's like my hands are not my hands but some metal pincers I'm holding/using, I don't feel anything and I don't understand anything that's happening when I'm poking my patients. Just zero. Nothing. And yes, I've had it explained to me billion times how what I should feel, but I just don't.

[OldDude]

Maybe you should visit a shaman or curandero or spend some time in Tibet with the monks; someone who could drive the anti-IV spirit out of you. You must have been taken over by a particular virulent force from the IV dark side.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I too want to be good at IVs. The issue for me is that the opportunities are so limited. We typically have a nurse that floats the hospital that will place them otherwise it is typically the charge nurse. I want to learn and "practice", but we are so busy that they don't wait. We aren't allowed to start them on our own until we have had 10 witnessed successful sticks, but when you never get the chance, it's impossible to get those sticks in..

[Sour Lemon]

Unfortunately, I can relate to this. And the three out of 100 that I get always leave me feeling puzzled and confused. Sometimes, they're "hard" sticks. So ....I just don't get it? I love old dude's suggestions, though! There're the only things I haven't tried.

[cleback]

I go through phases where I can't hit the broadside of a barn and particularly sucked as a new nurse.

Maybe you too are in a sucky phase?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Is it okay to laugh? I found this hysterical.

Have you tried closing your eyes and just going by feel? You also are probably going too deep.

Best of luck, keep trying though ( you might get in a pinch some day) and thanks so much for the laugh :)

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

For me it is a matter or confidence, or truthful maybe the 45.5 yr. experience......but I approach each as I'm getting this one

[brownbook]

I like your attitude, kind of, "I know I am not good with IV's so sue me". So many nurses think starting IV's is a big deal, something to boast and brag about! You're not a real nurse if you're not good at IV's.

Like Sour Lemon said, even when I was successful I had no idea why that one worked!

I did eventually get the hang of it, as you alluded it was all about confidence with me. I would try to psych myself and think I didn't care, but I don't think I really believed it deep inside. Just tons of practice, and finding what worked for me finally paid off.

I am half joking, maybe you should try hypnosis, might be less expensive than going to Tibet.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

You are probably over-thinking. Like I tell the students I get in the ER "pointy end down"

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

It took me six years to get IVs down. It was so frustrating! But when I finally got it, I got it good and went on to become an excellent IV starter. Still, there were times when I wasn't in what I called "The Zone" and I couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle. At those times I'd just call someone else in...no shame in trying and failing. You just have to keep practicing.

[JKL33]

Here's hoping that your "confession" here (which was awesome, by the way) will turn the tide!

****

I believe you when you say you've tried every trick in the book and every piece of advice!!

However, for the heck of it, I would still suggest finding someone who is kind and has a normal-sized ego, who is willing to watch and guide your technique. Do it again if it's been awhile since you had real-time coaching.

Best of luck ~

[djh123]

I wish you the best in getting over your IV problemas (Espanol for 'problems' :^) - and thanks for the humor too. I'm a bit anxious about this as well. Here's my situation: after several hospitals wouldn't hire me after graduating (because of course, I proved I was bad at learning by getting a BSN when I was over 50 :^), I got hired at a LTC/rehab place where I worked for 5 years (which is another story) and never had to start an IV.

Now I'm at a rehab place where I will need to do them, but not yet. Good thing I thought of downloading a couple of how-to-do-IV books into my Kindle app. Have read one and am 3/4 through the second one. I think that'll help a lot, but I'm sure I'll be nervous when it comes down to the real thing.