I did it!

Specialties NICU

Published

I got my first IV stick all by myself from start to finish!!! I have done good hitting veins but I usually need help to finish off advancing the catheter and flushing and taping while holding the baby. Last week I hit two and blew them both when I flushed. Yesterday I got a great one on my second stick great flash and flushed and taped it all on my own!! I also did chest compressions for the first time. That did not end up as well but it was a learning experience and the baby did not suffer. Over all it was a good night though. I am on my own on the 23rd :uhoh3:

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Specializes in NICU.

Good job!!

I do pretty good with getting IVs in, but I definitely can't do them by myself!! I still need help with taping and holding the baby. Good for you!

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Specializes in NICU.
Good job!!

I do pretty good with getting IVs in, but I definitely can't do them by myself!! I still need help with taping and holding the baby. Good for you!

Yeah, taping is hard on your own! We use Insytes and the plastic hub is hard to get taped down without an extra hand. Once someone slaps a tegaderm over it, though, I can usually finish fine on my own. I wish we had those IVs that look like butterflies where you just tegaderm down the whole butterfly to the limb and hook your fluids up to the pigtail. We get transports with those and they last for so much longer because there is no tension at the IV site. Maybe for tiny babies they aren't a good idea (skin breakdown) but for the >2kg crowd they'd be great!

Congrats on your IV stick!

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Specializes in NICU, CVICU.

On our unit, protocol is that IVs are a two-person job. There are a few people that will start them alone, but will need help taping...but for the most part, you have a partner from start to finish!

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Specializes in NICU.

The only time I've ever been able to do IVs on my own with no assistance have been with babies on Pavulon. The rest of the time, I need a helper! I don't like when people watch me do the actual stick though - makes me nervous. I am one to tightly swaddle the baby (except for the limb I'm working on, of course), provide fentanyl PRN if intubated or sucrose on a pacifer if not, and say to my coworkers, "If I get this IV, can you tape for me?" Then I'll let them know if I've got a good one.

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There was someone in there that I could have just said hey help if I needed to but it is not policy that we have two people. There are usually more than two around to do an IV and look the kid over for a good one anyway when one blows!

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
I got my first IV stick all by myself from start to finish!!! I have done good hitting veins but I usually need help to finish off advancing the catheter and flushing and taping while holding the baby. Last week I hit two and blew them both when I flushed. Yesterday I got a great one on my second stick great flash and flushed and taped it all on my own!! I also did chest compressions for the first time. That did not end up as well but it was a learning experience and the baby did not suffer. Over all it was a good night though. I am on my own on the 23rd :uhoh3:

Good job! Has anyone ever used a neonatal transilluminator to see the veins? Our unit has one and so do some nurses, they're nice.

Kim

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