Bad "sticker" needs help

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:confused: I'm a terrible sticker. It doesn't matter if I'm using a butterfly to draw blood, or putting in an IV.

Any tips?

Also, exactly when do I release the tourniquet?

Which size catheter? Best place to go?

How deep to stick? What angle?

I heard that using a blood pressure cuff is better on old and fragile veins. Any truth to that?

If you can help me I will kiss you! :kiss Nurscee

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Another place to get practice at IV's if you have no IV team is the pre-op holding areas. If you can get permission to do nothing but IV's there for a day or two it would be helpful.

When we inserviced medical students on IV insertion, our IV team always had them put an IV into each other. That way they could get their apprehensions about the first stick out of the way in an environment where they could be themselves. I have to say that I've only seen a handful over my many years in IV therapy who were any good at the first stick (and, I'm including myself in that group)--so, practice is very important. You just have to be persistant about getting in there and doing them. For me, it was always a great feeling of accomplishment when I was able to cannulate a vein in someone who had been labeled by the rest of the staff as having bad veins. This is your second warning, however, if you get really good at this you are going to get volunteered to start the difficult IVs by everybody else who won't face their own inability at it. :rotfl:

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Just remember.....even when you are "great" at starting IV's......we all have days that we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn! :chuckle

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

Thank you all for this advice! I sure needed it! I have had 3 attempts at starting an IV and haven't got one yet. I passed up 2 because I was just so sure that I couldn't get it. I'll make sure that I keep asking for the chance because I desparately want my first successful stick!

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Is there anyone that will allow you to try on them? Usually, Paramedics are wonderful at IV's and will not only let you try on them, they will talk you thru it. Do you know anyone in your ER?

Keep the faith!:)

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