First Venipuncture..........ugh

Nurses General Nursing

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Today was the first day I tried inserting an IV. The nurse educator took us to the ER since we would have more there than the floor. Well well, boy is it drastically different from those dummy arms. The first victim I had was a 93 yo womem with one vein that I could work with. Well you can pretty much guess what happen. Of course it was unsuccessful. The second was an 96 yo women that was severely dehydrated. Her veins wouldn't even pop up a bit. While the other nurses got patients in their 20's. I just wished I could of gotten one IV inserted today. I felt so imcompetent. :o

Care to share your first venipuncture story....

:imbar

yeah; I got it.

but....

you hafta remember, we all have our "dry" spells, so don't let it get you down.

It's like putting on mascara.... relax or you'll muff it.

I'd offer my arm if you were close (got veins you could drive a truck through). I practiced on everyone I knew, I figure I have a huge karmic debt to pay off...

My first venipuncture was on a comatose patient who decided to wake up and swing at me when I stuck him with the needle. :eek: I am not kidding!!! He came out of his coma and took a swing at me. His father and sister had to hold him down.

Originally posted by researchrabbit

I'd offer my arm if you were close (got veins you could drive a truck through). I practiced on everyone I knew, I figure I have a huge karmic debt to pay off...

OK...this may sound REALLY stupid...but what do you mean by you "practiced on everyone you knew"? :confused: Did they actually give you stuff to take home?...I didn't think that was possible 'cause of the hazards? Just curious...

Hang in there! You can do it! There will be days that you can't miss and you'll often wonder how in the world you ever hit a vein. :)

If you were attempting venous cathertization on a 21 year old athelete instead of 90 year olds,no offense to 90 year olds,Im getting there myself,your chances of success would have been much better.

Originally posted by MollyMo

My first venipuncture was on a comatose patient who decided to wake up and swing at me when I stuck him with the needle. :eek: I am not kidding!!! He came out of his coma and took a swing at me. His father and sister had to hold him down.

You cured him!!!! LOL!!!!!!!:roll

Don't worry, my first IV was a 94 african american lady, I was so shaky that the nurse that was helping me out had to hold my hand after I got the vein because I was so happy that I got it that I forgot what to do after!!!!!

IV's come with practice, just keep sticking!!!!

I missed so many times in nursing school that I finally "borrowed" a 20 guage and inserted it in my husband's arm. One success was all it took.

Since thievery of hospital supplies is not nice, keep drawing blood and checking out veins.

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

I let students poke me, too - have great veins. As you say, going from that rubber arm to (what seems to invariably be a dehydrated octegarian who has had chemo and used to shoot up) is a bit of a reality shock lol. Keep pressing on - you'll get there.

Specializes in ER/SICU.

I was lucky first stick was just like the dummy arm. The guy came in ER overdosed half out of it, damn thing looked and felt just like the one at school. I got the first few I tried then had a terrible dry streak but with practice, they get easy. I did my 200 hours for Sr practicum in the ER had 10-15 sticks a day pretty much everyday it is all about confidence. Just keep sticking and if you miss the first one do not give up get a new cath and make the stick. One of my med surg teachers hated when students would miss and then step back. You can go ahead and try again (after 2 misses maybe you should let someone else get in) but you get the point.

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