Cannulated an artery

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Had a tricky AC IV. Was pretty sure I was palpating a vein-did not get in, so I did a little fishing. Got in, and got a great flash, though not in retrospect, not where I had originally intended. Hook my line up to gravity, and get a couple inches of pulsing blood. DOH!

Never did that before.

hherrn

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

It happens...dc the IV, hold pressure and start looking again.

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Specializes in M/S,TELE,ORTHO,ER.

Yup.

You might not get a lot of people to admit it but I bet lots of us have done it. I know that when I said something to my coworker she had done it on the same shift.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

I've done it.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

I'll admit it....I've done it....don't feel bad, if that's the worst mistake you make you are golden :)

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Specializes in M/S,TELE,ORTHO,ER.

TOO true.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Haven't done it yet, but I've seen it, and it's actually kinda cool. The blood just pulses up the line in time to the heartbeat....

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
Haven't done it yet, but I've seen it, and it's actually kinda cool. The blood just pulses up the line in time to the heartbeat....

Or you don't hold pressure hard enough and you find our REALLY quick it's not venous. It took me months to get over that. If it was more than a mere trickle that came out of the arm, I just knew I had hit an artery. LOL

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i've done it once too. i tried to flush it and it about squirted back out at me. that was an "oh crap" moment, lol.

just make sure you wrap it really well with some coban so you have adequate pressure applied after you take the cannula out.

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Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

its happened to me once .pull out line hold pressure .look again for vein

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I'll admit it....I've done it....don't feel bad, if that's the worst mistake you make you are golden :)

If it's the worst thing I do in a shift, I'm golden.

hherrn

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Wait, you guy's are looking for a vein on purpose?:D

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