Illumivein

[Jmarty31]

This may sound like a dumb question but I've heard about the illumivein penlight things (not sure what to call it) that shows veins easier; does it work?

[Z0LIN]

I actually have one and love it! Although nothing will replace true IV and phlebotomy 'skill' the Illumivein is a tool to help you find something on a hard stick patient.

I work ICU and have had countless experiences where I was able to get a line in first shot using the illumivein... this is after 3 or 4 other nurses have failed.... Really does come in handy.

[sodawisher]

I saw it online, and I thought it was an interesting thought. I went to Walgreens and bought a super bright flashlight (it doesn't have any LED lights at all) for $8. I've been playing around with it, and I figured it's probably the same concept as the illumivein. I decided to get the illumivein (the cheapest I found a way to get it was $21), and it's pretty much the same. The Walgreens flashlight has a yellow halo as opposed to a red halo, but they're pretty much the same in terms of finding the exact same veins. I think they were just really clever in their gimmick, but overall a great idea!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

My previous workplace invested in an Accuvein device that illuminated the veins of the hard-to-stick patients who needed peripheral IV lines started. VenoScope is another brand of a vein illumination device.

The Accuvein never really helped me all that much, although a few of my former coworkers loved it. I am a tactile person who needs to feel a bouncy vein if I ever have any reasonable hope of starting the peripheral IV line with success.