BD nexiva catheters?

[sunnycalifRN]

How do you not blow the vein? After blood return, do you release the tourniquet then advance the needle into the vein? Please help. I get good blood return but end up blowing the vein. Why? I leave the tournique on. Is this why?

Ah, from your post, I think I know what your problem is. After entering the vein and getting the "flash", you only advance the needle about another 1/8", then, you lower your angle and while holding the gray hub, you slide the catheter into the vein . . . note, you do not try to advance the catheter with the needle, otherwise, it's very easy to pierce the vein wall and "blow" the vein. After getting the catheter inserted to the hub, you can release the tourniquet.

It's kind of hard to describe, much easy to demonstrate. I hope you understood what I wrote.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Ah, from your post, I think I know what your problem is. After entering the vein and getting the "flash", you only advance the needle about another 1/8", then, you lower your angle and while holding the gray hub, you slide the catheter into the vein . . . note, you do not try to advance the catheter with the needle, otherwise, it's very easy to pierce the vein wall and "blow" the vein. After getting the catheter inserted to the hub, you can release the tourniquet.

It's kind of hard to describe, much easy to demonstrate. I hope you understood what I wrote.

First of all, we switched about a year ago. I was an Intima fan, so I was happy to see these. The Insyte people hate and still hate the nexiva. With that being said, I see people all the time blow veins because they advance them with the needle still intact. I even told this one newbie that once she got the flash, to lower, and pull back the grey part and then advance the needle. She didn't do it and of course blew the vein,

Once I see the flash, I immediately lower my angle and pull back on the grey part. Only then do I advance.

[Ahhphoey]

We began using these at my hospital last year and it was difficult and frustrating initially. I'm pretty decent at starting IV's and I was very disturbed when I blew the IV twice when attempting a start in a patient with huge veins (should have been a very easy stick). I always did like the idea of having the tubing already connected and the design of the device, though I am still a little unsure about the needle retraction (it just doesn't seem that stable; I'm always afraid I'm going to stick myself after I've pulled the needle out. Nevertheless, I do like the product now and have gotten comfortable with it. Ours last up to 72 hours (this is when our policy states to rotate anyway) and beyond I'm sure. It just takes some getting used to, but overall I like them.