Catheters/ IV starts

[Jengon9344]

Hello, I am currently in Med-Surg I and loving it. I have started 4 IV's successfully during clinical rounds. I ordered some catheters so that I can practice at home. The problem is that I mistakenly order a winged catheter, which doesn't have the locking mechanism that blocks the blood from back-flowing out. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NAME OF THAT MECHANISM OR SPECIFIC TYPE OF CATHETER? I didn't realize that they aren't all made that way, until I order the winged ones. I am in Charlotte, NC; I wonder if all the hospitals here use these new fangled catheters. Lord knows it made my first few IV starts a little less nerve racking.

I don't have rounds again until next weekend, and I wanted to order the correct ones TODAY :)

Please respond if you can help me with the brand name or keyword. Otherwise, I do understand how to block the blood from flowing out via site pressure, etc...

GRACIAS

[Jengon9344]

Thank you so much!

[ScrappytheCoco]

Practice occluding the vein with your hand after you get your flash. I'm an agency RN...I have had tons of assignments in many different hospitals and only a few months ago did I even find out these fancy iv catheters existed. Practice it the old fashioned way so you aren't caught off guard with a bloody mess when you don't have them around.

[OscarTheOwl]

It takes time and lots of practice to get the hang of it, not fancy IV's. I have actually never used anything like what you describe. Practice as much as you can where to put your fingers and what steps to do take to occlude the vein to prevent the mess. Always remove the tourniquet when you get the flash etc. When on an actual patient always have your lines ready to go (or flush, whatever).

Why doesn't your program supply IV's? We were required to buy a supply kit with all that junk each semester. I doubt we would have been able to bring in items we bought personally to practice at school.

And you got an Rx from your PCP for IV supplies? Just curious

[Jengon9344]

I'm sure glad that I asked about the fancy IV catheters, otherwise, sounds like I would have been in for a rude awakening whenever I worked or did a rotation at a hospital that did not provide them. I will heed the advice to practice technique as opposed to relying on the fancy catheter.

Not sure why, but my program doesn't provide Iv's. they gave us 2 kits during the first IV labs where they introduced us to the skill. When I expressed concern about the need to practice in order to gain more confidence, we we advised that the true learning will occur during clinical rounds. Thankfully, I have done several IV starts during my first Med-Surg course and am feeling pretty good about it. It is a bit ridiculous to me that they would not provide those kits for us to practice during lab, but they don't. I have consistently read the same thing on other nursing student forums about other programs, too! The most frustrating part is that the Medical Assisting students and Phlebotomy students get to practice in lab, OYVAY :)

I explained to my PCP the situation and also my pharmacists. I've been under their care for over a decade. I explained how I didn't want to order them myself online and I assured them that I would be practicing in lab at school. I also got the support of a couple of nurse educators who agreed to work with me in the lab. Trust me, I do not want to do anything that would jeopardize my prospective career in nursing.

I really appreciate the feedback!

[lavenderskies, BSN]

How did you purchase IV catheters that require a prescription from a licensed provider?

You don't need a rx you can purchase direct med supply or on amazon.

[offlabel]

Get used to using any and all kinds if catheters. Between hospital's constant directives to save money and variation between hospital to hospital, nurses need to be in the mindset of using anything well to get access.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

You are probably talking about the Insyte Auto guard 3...with blood flow technology

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Oh gosh. You just reminded me of my one and only nursing school IV start. Blood everywhere.