I'm Injections and hitting blood vessels?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

I'm just curious on average how many times, you've hit a blood vessel giving I'm injections (especially in VL site)? ...........I ask because in 4 years I"ve hit a blood vessel twice in VL site (and I've worked ED and ICU). My friend , RN for 6yrs says she hits a blood vessel at least 5% of the time. That seems high to me? Or am I just more lucky?

So what is your percentage or number of times hitting a vessel?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, Ortho.

In six years I have not hit one. I could be lucky. I always check my landmarks though.

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

I've never hit one (knock on wood) and I've been a nurse for 3 years.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

I've hit 2 in 22 yrs

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Specializes in ICU.

I have never hit one, that I know of. What happens if you do? Does it bleed real bad and make a big bruise? I know that it's suppose to come back into your syringe when you try to aspirate before you plunge the med in... but I have never had that happen before.

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Specializes in Home Health/PD.

I was taught if you did hit a blood vessel to remove the needle and redraw the med up in a new syringe.

i've never hit one, but i've only been a nurse since july 08 and haven't had too much IM inj experiance

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

I've given literally thousands of IM injections over the years. I've had it happen twice.

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

I've had it happen once-to me! It was after my first c-section. I had a general anesthesia and I was kinda out of it. The nurse (my good friend) came in to give me my demerol injection. I remember seeing blood as she aspirated and I said to her (groggily) "Gwen, I wouldn't inject that, it's in a vein."

Of course she didn't...

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Specializes in behavioral health.

I believe that my injection for flu vaccine was in blood vessel. I bled for quite a while afterwards, ended up with big bruise. My bruise was out of the landmark range for deltoid injections. I was surprised because she is usually very good with injections. Oh well, I guess she had an off day. Other than bleeding a lot, and ending up with bruise, I had no other reactions. I trusted her again to give me injection, and she did great.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Peds, OB, L/D, Ortho.

I have gotten in a vein 2 times in all my years. The first time it freaked me out a little!

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

I've been an RN since august 2006, and I've not had that happen to me.

I wouldn't take that without the proverbial grain of salt, though, as I can count on my fingers the number of ims I've given since I didn't have a nursing instructor breathing down my neck. :eek:

I've always been curious as anything to know what happens in that situation.

*jess*

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I work in peds primary care and give TONS of IM vaccines and I have only aspirated blood once in 8 years.

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