Nurse of 10 years can't start IV's

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

I am stuck. I have been a nurse for 10 years and still can not start an IV. How pathetic is that? I have been trying so hard to get a nursing job like case management but apparently many others are trying too. I am currently without a job but need a job. Problem is all the available jobs require IV skills. Stupid me shouldn't have picked nursing. I still have $27,000 worth of student loans so I feel truly, truly stuck. Any suggestions for me on what I can do.

[SwansonRN]

It's not pathetic. Have you had much practice? Have you ever taken a class?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

What are you having problems with? There are classes you can take.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Look on your community college website- lots of places offer phlebotomy courses. Do you have an IV team at your facility? Ask to precept with them on one of your days off. Lots of nurses have trouble with IVs if it is not a part of your day to day duties. You can learn this- it is a very simple skill. You just need practice and guidance. Good luck!!!

I will share my horribly embarrassing experience to make you feel better- I am experienced in IV access and phlebotomy. I have *years* of experience accessing difficult veins in difficult situations. I stopped doing IVs for a number of years, but when I started at my current job I was sure it would all come back easily. The first IV I had to place at this job was on a patient who came in at 7cm in rip roaring labor, and she needed a c/s because of a recent pelvic surgery. We were zipping around trying to get everything ready for a stat section. I get everything ready and insert the catheter, get blood for labs, and hook up the IV. Only to realize I had inserted it pointing DISTALLY. I was so embarrassed, and then I found out that the woman's husband, watching me do this, WAS AN EMT. I almost died.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Heck, even the most eagle-eyed IV starter has down times when s/he couldn't hit a vein with both hands. . . BTDT.

Sounds like your confidence is just at a low ebb - and this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. PPs are right, it's a learned skill. Practice, practice, practice.

[brownbook]

For my first 15 years of nursing I was very hit and miss with IV starts. Many areas of nursing do not require a lot of IV's sticks and if you tend to shy away or "think" you are not good you (I) just ask co-workers to start them.

The last 8 years I work where daily IV starts are part of the job and even then it took a while for me to REALLY feel I had the technique down as opposed to kind of good and hoping for the patient's sake and mine I'd have a good day!

Please don't feel dumb, bad, inadequate, about IV's. Admit you are out of practice and read the thousand of hints you will find in an All-nurses search, and You-Tube has great educational videos on IV starts.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Just wanted to wish you luck.

[CWONgal]

What kind of nursing have you been doing? How often do you do IV's? If you do IV's what do you perceive to be the problem?

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Dont feel bad , I stink at them too. I think part of it is that I have carpal tunnel from another previous job, and dont have the same feel I think I should have. I either blow the vein, or skate right accross the top of the skin. Or poke and get nothing . Had no Idea in nursing school I would suck this much. And its not a matter of practice- I have been given plenty of opportunity

I know someday I'll be needing to look for another job, and most all need iv skills. I can usually do phlebotomy for the most part, but can't thread ivs right.ughh.

Im still paying on loans too. :9

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

I did med-surg on an adult floor my first 2 years out of school. The last 8 years have been in Pediatrics. 4 years as a pediatric nurse case manager. The department lost the contract with the state. I had a baby and was off for a few months.Then the last 3 and a half years in a pediatric outpatient clinic. I haven't had to start an IV in 8 years now. I am currently unemployed. I left my peds clinic job because I lost my 3rd baby because of SIDS, and it just got too incredibly painful for me to see babies all the time since I can't have anymore of mine own. When I was doing Med-Surg I was only 5% successful in IV starts.

[utadahikaru]

Dude, if you really want to nip it in the bud. See if you can work as a phlebotomy for a couple weeks, heck even try volunteering.

A vein is a vein dude, if you can draw blood good, then you can easily do IVs also. If all else fails, get your hands on some IV's and practice on your friends. It's purely a matter of practice.

[MatrixRn]

Agree, good advice given.

When I worked in bedside we had an IV team that started and maintained all IVs. Is this not so anymore?

I wonder if we are swinging back into the nurse as the main care provider.