I always take help for inserting IV

I'm not sure why you fear the plastic cover coming off the needle (the catheter?), but even experienced nurses can blow veins--it's gonna happen.

Stop taking help and do as many as you can, even if they are not your own patients. Follow your hospital's policy for how many times you can try before getting help. This is a skill that you need to practice as often as you can to become good at it.

PS...If you don't work in the ED, see if you can spend some time there helping out. You will get lots of experience starting IVs and soon become more confident.

I'm a new nurse too and nothing gets me more antsy than having to put in an IV. I just hate sticking people! I try to do them myself unless the pt has really bad veins. It has gotten better with each one that I have done. Good luck!

I am a new RN and love my job but whenever there is requirement of putting new IV on patient, I take help as I sometime am confident and some time really loose it. I fear that the plastic cover over needle might come off or I will blow patient's vein. How can I OVERCOME THIS ???????????

While I was donating platelets the other day, I asked the very skilled nurse sticking me, "How do you get good at that??"

She looked at me deadpan and said, "You screw it up."

It's like anything else, you have to do it on your own eventually.

I had a very good nursing instructor who told me, "I was always OK at starting IVs. I was never great at it, but I got to know who was. I would try twice and if I couldn't get it, I called in reinforcements."

Do every IV that comes your way. Try at least 1 stick. It is the only way to get better.

I can draw blood for labwork just fine. Because I like the antecubital area and it's easy. When it comes to starting IV's... in the mid arm region... I SUCK! If I can even get that flashback, after I withdraw the needle then I usually panic because I'm trying to put pressure to collapse the vein to control the bloody mess that follows while trying to hook up the tubing & flush! I can't seem to coordinate that part very well. I haven't gotten one on the first try yet. But I know it will get easier with practice.

Try to get permission to spend a day on the GI procedures floor. Every patient gets an IV before their procedure and those nurses can stick anything! It helped me tremendously. Also, when drawing labs, before removing the needle and applying pressure to close the vein, stick a piece of gauze under it to catch any dribbles until you get the dexterity to keep it from looking like a bloody massacre!

Honestly, I still dont LIKE starting IVs, especially on my patients. I find it helps to practice on other people's patients. At least that way if you dont get it I won't feel like they are thinking I'm incompetent all night. Surprisingly I am really good at getting everyone elses IVs especially on really hard patients. Also try to find one vein you "like" and practice with that. I almost always will use the one that runs along the interior aspect of the wrist near the thumb, even if I cant see it, I've done so many there I pretty much know where to find it.

And oh yes, some of my patients still look like a bloody massacre occurred especially if I'm really worried about losing it once I get it in. I just make sure to bring enough gauze for under the site, then attach my tubing, secure it and clean them up.

The only way to get over the fear is to keep doing them and gain confidence. Stick to the policy of how many tries you can do but go in and try yourself first without the b/u standing there. It will make you even more nervous to have someone watching you. Take a deep breath and if your hands are shaking stop and chat for a minute or two with the patient so you can calm down. You will get better in time. I promise. Your fear is making it worse than it is in actuality.

You've just got to get over those fears and attempt as many IVs as you can, even the one's you think will be too difficult. It's like learning to ride a bike, you've got to fall alot first.

try as many as you can. This past fall, I returned to school forgetting how to insert an IV. My preceptor asked if I wanted to try on someone else's pt. I jumped at the opportunity, totally expected to not even get a flashback, but figured it would be good experience. So, I actually got it! I was so shocked, I had not even prepared anything, the flush, the lock, tape, nothing. I just go in with the philosophy that every miss helps me learn what not to do for the next time.

Practice practice practice. Heck, practice on your friends if you have to (and if they are so willing ). That's what I did and I love starting IVs now. I'm a newbie on my floor, but even the experienced nurses come to me to start their IVs now. And you will blow veins. It's inevitable. Actually, I tend to more often blow the veins that look like they will be very easy sticks. Slippery little things they are

Practice practice practice. Heck, practice on your friends if you have to (and if they are so willing ). That's what I did and I love starting IVs now. I'm a newbie on my floor, but even the experienced nurses come to me to start their IVs now. And you will blow veins. It's inevitable. Actually, I tend to more often blow the veins that look like they will be very easy sticks. Slippery little things they are

I wouldn't actually practice on your friends. Your hospital probably has a policy against it for liability reasons.