Starting IV's

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Next week I am doing clinical rotation on the women's unit, and I know I will have to start and IV. Does anyone have any tips for my first time. Seem like I read on a post before, but it might have been for injections to take the top (round part not tip) of a pen and make a light indention in the skin to mark your spot.

Thanks

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I don't have any tips for you,really, but I wouldn't think anyone would recommend making an indent with a pen end: you've just swabbed that area with chloraprep or something similar, right? Would make it pointless to stick a dirty pencap there.

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true, didn't think about that, like I said I read it somewhere, never tried it

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

here are some links for you to check out:

http://www.aic.cuhk.edu.hk/web8/very%20basic%20venous%20cannulation.htm - a pictorial on the basics of starting an iv with pictures of equipment to use

http://flightline.highline.edu/drydberg/infusion_skills.htm - list of links into iv skills. some of these may be already listed on the iv pages.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f18/iv-tips-tricks-3793.html - iv tips and tricks. this is a thread on the er forum that has lots of information about finding and hitting veins from a lot of experienced nurses.

http://enw.org/ivstarts.htm - iv starts. . .improving your odds! a very nice article on starting ivs.

http://www.ocalaregional.com/cpm/venous.htm - venous access devices self-study module - beside information about peripheral iv devices there is also information about the various central lines.

http://www2.ncn.com/~bln/skills/nur109/nur109_iv_id.htm - a nice pictorial on how to convert an iv to a saline lock

http://teach.lanecc.edu/nursingskills/ - lane community college skills page. this has information on maintaining iv's and iv tubing.

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My second semester clinical teacher said it's more about touch than it is about sight. She made us close our eyes and feel the veins (on IV boards, of course, not actual pts). I've only started one, but touch is definately the sense you need to use more than sight. Oh, and she also taught us to put the tourniquet over the person's sleeve, that way it doesn't pinch the skin- your pt. will appreciate it. Hope this helps! Good luck!

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Thanks for sharing the links.very helpfull:nurse:

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

here's a site i ran across today on starting iv's that i had never seen before. you might find it helpful:

http://www.childbirths.com/euniversity/ivtherapy.htm - iv therapy. a very nice one page tutorial from e-university that includes the indications for iv therapy, the various types of peripheral iv devices (includes pictures), a discussion and explanation of isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic fluids, the difference between crystalloid and colloid solutions, choosing veins, the steps in venipuncture (includes drawings), how to discontinue an iv, and a short discussion at the end on calculating drip rate.

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If your prep comes on a stick, you can mark the vein with the end of the stick (an indent) and then swab it. You can see the mark through the iodine and no contamination. I guess you can make the indent with just about anything prior to swabbing.

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Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.
here's a site i ran across today on starting iv's that i had never seen before. you might find it helpful:

http://www.childbirths.com/euniversity/ivtherapy.htm - iv therapy. a very nice one page tutorial from e-university that includes the indications for iv therapy, the various types of peripheral iv devices (includes pictures), a discussion and explanation of isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic fluids, the difference between crystalloid and colloid solutions, choosing veins, the steps in venipuncture (includes drawings), how to discontinue an iv, and a short discussion at the end on calculating drip rate.

wow, that's a great site for all sorts of info, daytonite! thanks! :wink2:

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Specializes in OB, ortho/neuro, home care, office.

Daytonite - just a thumbs up from me. That truely is an AWESOME site for students (the one the OP pointed out) it's excellent!

Great job!

On a side note - do put the tourniquet over the sleeve - your instructor will be impressed and the patient will appreciate it.

I had a job where all I did all day is start IVs

Hints from me.

1. Pull skin tight

2. don't go on sight alone - go on feel the veins you see are usually superficial

3. start from the hand and work up finding a vein (salvaging veins for later pokes)

4. bevel up

5. once you feel the pop (you'll know what I mean when you feel it) advance it just a tiny bit (Whole needle) then advance the catheter off of the needle and hold pressure above the insertion site (to keep it from bleeding alot) and remove the needle. Switch to previously set up IV set.

6. Always have your tape ready - ripped into sections thin ones for over the cath/butterfly

7. always have your iv set primed and ready with fluid.

8. tape down cath before putting on the iv protector film (can't think of actual name lol).

9. secure 'loop' so that it won't be easily dislodged making it a requirement for another iv poke.

10. above all - don't tell the patient it's your first time - bite your tongue, because they will tense up and will make it harder to do - after you are finished is the time to say 'that was my first iv start :)'

good luck - well it's not a matter of luck it's skill. Believe in yourself - it will help you accomplish all things.

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