Best ER Tricks what it meant is like putting two tourniquet to get the IV

TLSpaz, ASN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

Yep, this works. You pump up the BP cuff until the radial pulse goes away, and leave it right there. I learned that from a guy who was a total ace with IVs.

Our SpaceLabs monitors have a venous stasis function that does this for us right from the NIBP monitor with the touch of a button.

TLSpaz, ASN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

SurgiLube dissolves dried blood...keeps you from having to scrub so hard. Coat the wound with a generous amount of lube, let it sit for 5 mins, and then wipe away with little to no elbow grease.

TLSpaz, ASN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

My very first job was at a poor small rural hospital that could not afford anything. It was amazing that we could afford to stay open. Well working at that hospital taught me how to work with nothing. Here are my tricks
4) Always have a small flashlight in you locker, never know when you will need it. A 300lb pt that needs a Foley or when the hospital get hit by lighting. (yes it's happened, with no back up generator) .

I keep one of those Duracell headband lights in my locker for these situations. Keeps my hands free.

stineknight · Mar 10, 2015

To keep those squirmy patients from sliding to the bottom of the bed, pull the pt. to the top of the bed, put the bed in slight trendelenberg, then sit the head of the bed up to position of comfort. Pt. will be sitting in a slight V shape. For the ED, you may have to bring the stretcher up a couple of pumps first.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2015

Ask patients where their last IV was even if they weren't a drug user. I managed to get a 20 in a patient that had 2 other nurses try that lasted for about 2 hours. She refused any further IVs.

Try to place a few sixteens in non-trauma situations before you get into a trauma. They are longer than a regular 18.

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 17, 2015

Have an disoriented exhibitionist pt who keeps flashing the world? No problemo. Just pull a gown up with their legs thru the arm holes. Voila, er shorts.

Christy1019, ASN, RN · Mar 17, 2015

Have an disoriented exhibitionist pt who keeps flashing the world? No problemo. Just pull a gown up with their legs thru the arm holes. Voila, er shorts.

Genius!

rnkatie85 · Mar 19, 2015

Nauseated pt - get them to smell an alcohol pad; works until you can get to the zofran!

I don't know how many places still do Ewald lavage, but if you rip a hole in a garbage bag and hang it around the pt's neck; it will catch any vomit, makes for easy clean up!

Cerumen impaction? fill the ear canal with colace liquid, let it sit, then irrigate with an angiocath connected to a syringe; works like a charm every time!

difficult sticks or pedi IVs- if you insert the IV bevel down you will get the flash sooner and decrease the chance of going through the backside of the vein.

empatheticRN · Mar 31, 2015

Nauseated pt - get them to smell an alcohol pad; works until you can get to the zofran!
I don't know how many places still do Ewald lavage, but if you rip a hole in a garbage bag and hang it around the pt's neck; it will catch any vomit, makes for easy clean up!
Cerumen impaction? fill the ear canal with colace liquid, let it sit, then irrigate with an angiocath connected to a syringe; works like a charm every time!
difficult sticks or pedi IVs- if you insert the IV bevel down you will get the flash sooner and decrease the chance of going through the backside of the vein.

I learnt in iv class bevel up. .. I'll try this

babynurselsa, RN · Apr 7, 2015

That would work on a person not addicted to drugs....Won't make a bit of difference except in your own head. What they actually heard was that they have cancer and now when they come in they need more and better drugs.

Guest219794 · Apr 9, 2015

sl Zofran for a fussy kid:

Put a drop of juice/water in a pill cup.

Drop in Zofran, make slurry.

Put slurry on gloved finger, or give to mom.

Finger in mouth, or inside of cheek.

20 minutes later, po challenge.

Avoid IV, discharge chld hours earlier.

sockov, ADN, ASN, BSN, CNA, LVN · May 3, 2015

Say again? Please explain. Thanks.