Don't you hate those bad IV days?

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So I just had to let off some frustration/depression, even though I know these days come every once in a while, but still.. hitting .000 for the day in ER is roooooough. I couldn't get a cath to thread and stay today even if I had someone holding a shotgun to my epididymis. The worst part? They all had good veins! I even blew one on a 21 year old female with an appy!

Point of thread? How do you get over an IV slump?

The worst is when you have a pt with great veins....and TELL THEM THAT....and then miss!

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Specializes in pediatrics, ED.

Why were you watching me LAST NIGHT!

Just kidding, we laugh it off and the next night come back and bam your IV God

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
The worst is when you have a pt with great veins....and TELL THEM THAT....and then miss!

I make a point of not telling them that cuz then I look like a total screw up when I miss. Plus, I don't know what is the worse thing for a pt to say to me:

"I'm a really hard stick...my veins hide." (psychs me out)

or

"I'm a really easy stick...look at this big one right over here." (makes me nervous that I will looks like a jacka** when I miss)

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Specializes in Emergency, Pre-Op, PACU, OR.
The worst is when you have a pt with great veins....and TELL THEM THAT....and then miss!

Yup, never tell them that until you have the line in, just in case... ;)

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Specializes in EMERG.

We can't be vein whisper-ers everyday!! I have day's like that once in a while!

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I make a point of not telling them that cuz then I look like a total screw up when I miss. Plus, I don't know what is the worse thing for a pt to say to me:

"I'm a really hard stick...my veins hide." (psychs me out)

When they say that to me, I always say, "Good! I'm always up for a challenge!" That way I get psyched FOR it, and not psyched OUT! 9 times outta 10 it works and they end up saying how great I am! Try it next time! :cool:

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Well, I've gotten out of my slump and am batting a thousand this week. I even hit an IV drug user with total venous sclerosis and a dehydrated paraplegic that a CRNI couldn't hit. I'm holding up a beer... who's with me!? :p

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