D/Cing an IV

Nursing Students Student Assist

Published

So do any of your veteran nurses have any tips on how to help me with this? I was at clinicals today and my RN asked me to d/c an IV on a patient. I have done this in lab but never on a real patient. I think the tape they use at school isn't nearly as sticky as the tape used in real life! Lol. So I was trying to pull the tape off and I was pulling it toward the IV site, I would get one part of the tape up and try for another part and the first part would stick again. I ended up moving the part that goes into the skin all around and I think it was uncomfortable for my patient. Should I have held the IV in place with my left hand and attempted to pull of the tape with my right? Those nurses putting in IV's for surgery sure know how to tape them so they don't come out:) Any tricks of the trade that would help me in the future would be really appreciated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I stabilize with my left thumb, remove right side and secure under thumb, then left side and secure under thumb, then "top" and secure under thumb, then gauze pressed gently to insertion site and remove, then hold.

Removing the tape will be uncomfortable for the patient, especially men with hairy arms. Sometimes there is no way around it than just doing it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much. I am definitely going to try it this way next week! I knew someone had to have a better way of doing this:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Use alcohol swabs to remove the tape. Lift a corner of the tape and start swabbing between the tape and patient's skin. You'll notice the tape will come off easier and the patient won't be in pain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Be careful with elderly or dehydrated patients with fragile skin, as pulling the tape can easily tear it. Once you get a corner lifted, have a stack of alcohol pads, and use them to press the skin away from the tape (if that makes sense). Don't pull on the tape, press the skin away gently using the pad. Start around the edges and work your way in- the tape may re-stick, but not as much as it did the first time.

With guys with super hairy arms, don't be afraid to trim hair! Keep some scissors on you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Some facilities have a adhesive remover, if not alcohol works just fine.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also instead of pulling towards the IV try pulling away from the IV that way your not pushing the IV in further or moving it around. If the tape is stuck to the IV it's ok since your taking it out anyways. Just get the tape off the skin and have your gauze ready. If your doing a dressing change then you want to remove the tape pulling towards the line so you don't remove it if that makes sense :)

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If the main part that is covering the IV is a clear dressing: the ones we use are removed by grabbing a corner and stretching the dressing. This releases the bandage without pulling hair. Make sure to stabilize the catheter while doing this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Use alcohol swabs to remove the tape. Lift a corner of the tape and start swabbing between the tape and patient's skin. You'll notice the tape will come off easier and the patient won't be in pain.

Certainly not trying to be rude here, but be careful with this. I am a male with some arm hair. I once had a nurse try and use adhesive remover when taking out the IV. She would swab and then pull, swab and then pul, etc. I was definitely in pain and still ended up with hair all over the tape/dressing she had just taken off.

I know it is not pleasant, but the best way, as far as I'm concerned, is do it just like a bandaid--go fast, pull it off all at once. It doesn't tickle, but it's done quickly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I use to put the alcohol swabs on top of the tape to soak in a bit before lifting the tape especially on the hairy people. It seemed to help sometimes depending on how fresh the tape was.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not a veteran nurse or nurse at all (12 more weeks)

But I use alcohol pads as well! Really works!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Certainly not trying to be rude here but be careful with this. I am a male with some arm hair. I once had a nurse try and use adhesive remover when taking out the IV. She would swab and then pull, swab and then pul, etc. I was definitely in pain and still ended up with hair all over the tape/dressing she had just taken off. I know it is not pleasant, but the best way, as far as I'm concerned, is do it just like a bandaid--go fast, pull it off all at once. It doesn't tickle, but it's done quickly.[/quote']

I'm sorry that happened to you but the trick is to swab and pull at the same time. Not swab then pull, otherwise the patient would still be in pain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment