I feel like I'm never going to get good at IVs

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 16, 2014

That's part of becoming good at doing IVs. I'm pretty rusty at doing them, and while I can do them, there are times I just can't seem to cannulate a drain pipe sized vein.

There are some good videos online (like YouTube) that show the process. While they're doing it, visualize yourself doing those same steps... just as you would.

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Oct 16, 2014

I worked on a tele/step down unit for 18 months (and was a student tech for over a year before that...where I got iv experience) and I'm not very good at IVs either. Some people just seem to get it and others just get by. There were a few nurses that you always go to for help and they seem to be able to just toss it in from across the room. Don't expect to be that.

As long as you try you will get better. Look on YouTube as PP said. Ask those better nurses for pointers. As long as you try and are proficient be happy.

I do home health now and sometimes get IVs. For extra practice I went one morning to our outpatient surgery center and helped. Still not good but I manage.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Oct 16, 2014

Keep going... If you are continually trying to improve your practice, it is inevitable. I was once "counseled" on my IV success rate, and have since become the "go-to" person for difficult hospital starts for years now. One year is nothing. In martial arts and gymnastics, no move is considered solid until practiced 10,000 times. That takes a while....

Nurse_ · Oct 16, 2014

I read a lot of advice and techniques but it boils down to you. I used to get too shy, not wanting to cause pain with too many IV attempts but one of my co-workers told me to get over that fear because a working IV line can truly be a lifesaver.

So I did. I set my qualms aside and take my time visualizing the vein. I studied my veins first. A red flashlight helps visualize the superficial veins. Once I've become more familiar with my anatomy, I experimented on the placement of the tourniquet and ways to plump up the vein. I switched from hot and cold packs, moving my patients hands up and down, closing and opening their hands, elevating the extremity... you name it.

I missed. A lot. I still am not the best IV starter in the unit (nor do I strive to be). But the key thing I want for you to take is that I tried and failed a lot of times because each patient is different. We have patients who had been poked a lot that the skin seems like a big scar tissue. Older patients with skin so non-elastic that prevents the catheter from being advanced. But I never stopped trying and I always asked for help.

brownbook · Oct 16, 2014

Honestly over 70% of nurses could post your same question, including me.

Many of the most competent knowledgeable nurses with 30 years experience just don't happen to ever work in an area where IV's are frequently needed.....doesn't mean anything. Probably the manager hiring you isn't that great.

There are 1000's of hints and advice if you enter IV starts in All Nurses search.

I was bad. Then I worked where daily IV starts were needed and I got very good. Now I work extra help and when I haven't worked for a while I am a little rusty.

I don't know what words to use in a job interview. But just say yes you started IV's at your old job.....if they ask more details say you were good...(there were some days you were good)!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 16, 2014

It took me almost 6 years to get good at IV starts. Part of that was not working in acute care for the first 2 years I was licensed, and part of it was just lack of confidence because we had never been allowed to start IVs on live patients in school. But when I finally figured it out, I got good really fast, and pretty soon I was the one who'd get a call from the ICU to start a line in an IV drug user, or the nursery to get one in a newborn.

HOWEVER---there were also times when I was not in what I called The Zone, and I couldn't hit a bull in the backside with a 2 x 4. This may be what happens to you, and the only way to get back into The Zone is keep doing IVs. You can't afford to lose your self-confidence. Everybody blows an IV once in a while, and some of us get into funks where we miss them for several days running. It always gets better if you just push on through the rough patch. :yes:

firstinfamily, RN · Oct 16, 2014

When I worked ICU we used mostly central lines, most of my experience in starting IVs was not in the hospital but during Home Health, we had to stick for our own blood draws, and I did really good some days and not so good on others. It is a learned skill, and you just have to keep trying. Different equipment also makes you adjust your skills, so using a different manufactured jelco may make a difference. In the LTC facility I was the one everyone came to for IVs somedays I got them, somedays I did not. I did not believe in blind sticks, so I still have problems if I cannot visualize the vein. Learning the vascular anatomy helps, using a flash light helps, using warm compresses helps, maintain your aseptic technique and just continue to practice. Let the interview go along and if they ask if you have had IV skills, say "yes" because you have, that does not mean you get it every single time. And usually a new facility wants a certain number of successful sticks before you are IV certified. You can always ask to have a day at the lab or in the outpatient surgery to practice starting IVs. As long as you are willing to learn, they should not hold this against you!!

Bezoars · Oct 20, 2014

I was always just "okay" at starting IV's. What made me feel better was that VERY eperienced nurses on the floor would also miss them all the time. Some people just have a flair for that skill... others, not so much. My ADON said to me "IV starts are like fishing.... sometimes you catch something, and sometimes you don't". Don't be afraid to go in odd places as a last resort too. I've stuck them so far up the shoulder that they looked like they were in the boob =) An IV is an IV when you have nothing.

The sunny side of this story is that I went to work on Peds and NICU. If you can start an IV there... you can pretty much get one on anyone.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2014

I have worked in the ED for 4+ years now--an IV heavy area. As of now, I would still say that my IV abilities are only decent--even though I can see a big improvement from when I first started. Volunteer to try on other nurses' hard sticks. Sure, you don't want to torture a patient with multiple attempts, but the only way to get better on the harder sticks if you attempt them. Plus--imagine the confidence boost when you get the really hard IV that no one else could get!

One other thing--bad days will never go away. Even the best of IV starters have off days, and miss what should be an easy stick.

Jerseygirl12 · Oct 20, 2014

It takes time. Try putting warm compress on the patient to see the veins better thats what the IV nurse says to do

inshallamiami · Oct 20, 2014

I'm sure that there are LOTS of tips on Allnurses, but I will share one that had helped me a LOT. do it sitting down. Grab a chair, sit at the bedside with all your supplies, and sit while you look for veins, apply the tourniquet etc. I found sitting down helped me relax and for some reason it worked for me. try it!