I can never ever again miss an IV.

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Hi folks,

I'm a fourth semester ADN student (graduating in December). I got the opportunity to spend time in pre-op today, and they were kind enough to let me try IVs. I have only had one IV experience on a human before today.

My first two went in great... 18g in people with supposedly "tough" veins. The third didn't go so well. I kept running into valves that neither I nor my supervising RN could palpate before the stick. I missed twice, and all of a sudden I felt myself getting hot, ears ringing, etc... I knew I was going down, so I crouched down. The supervising RN took over and told me to sit in a chair across the room. Halfway to the chair, I hit the floor. I have no memory of going down.

After getting something to eat (I had eaten breakfast, but my instructor made me go get more anyway), I went back to pre-op. They asked me if I wanted to try again, and I said yes! Absolutely! So, I tried again, sitting this time. Missed once, was doing ok. Missed again, still ok. Got all my stuff cleaned up while the supervising RN got a line in, cleaned things up for her. Still alright. And then, I started feeling myself go again. I got down on the floor (outside the room) in a controlled fashion this time, and did not lose consciousness.

It's not blood. I have no issues with blood, there was blood in the first 2 successful ones, and I was fine. I'm not holding my breath - I was talking with the RN the whole time. But it seems to only happen when I miss an IV. So, other than not missing ever again in my life, does anyone have any strategies for how I can avoid playing roulette when I need to put in a line? I'm having a lot of anxiety about how this will affect my career.

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A lot of hospitals have IV teams and such and you may never even have to deal with inserting them.

Plus your anxiety probably had an effect. Once you become more educated and better I bet you have no problems!

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I was zero for 50 my first few weeks. Practice makes perfect. Just keep doing it.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I think you will get used to it.

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Make sure you have the bed at an appropriate level so you are not bending down?

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Make sure you have the bed at an appropriate level so you are not bending down?

This... And bending your knees, etc, good body mechanics.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Big 2nd to the bending knees recommendation. I bet you were locking your knees.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You are holding your breath or breathing too fast.....it will get better. Raise the bed so that you aren't bending over...... I have a 2 stick rule then go and get someone else.

((HUGS)) It will get better....((HUGS))

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Thanks, everyone. Talked it over with my doctor, and she thinks it's a vasovagal response, that I get too tense when I miss and that causes it. She wants my instructor to watch me to see what I do when I miss. I think it may have something to do with the breathing... I've caught myself needing a big breath after something adrenaline-inducing.

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Thanks, everyone. Talked it over with my doctor, and she thinks it's a vasovagal response, that I get too tense when I miss and that causes it. She wants my instructor to watch me to see what I do when I miss. I think it may have something to do with the breathing... I've caught myself needing a big breath after something adrenaline-inducing.

Have you considered the possibility of a panic attack?

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