Is this real? Vein light

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2015

My workplace has an Accuvein illumination handheld machine for nurses who want to use it. Personally, it has never helped me with difficult sticks, but I suppose it is handy if it will help boost the OP's confidence.

TXJDRN · Oct 22, 2015

I agree with the other posters that starting an IV by "feel" is the best method. When I was a new nurse I was very nervous about starting IVs. Within a few months though, I got better and my confidence went up. One "trick" is to use a bedside lamp aimed slightly to the side of the arm/hand you are working with. Another tip is to take your time with site selection. Good luck!

f1j1nurse · Oct 22, 2015

Believe it or not we used to have one in one of the County jails I worked in. But I never found them that helpful. Il earned to feel around for a "good" vein...sometimes tough given the population I work with. It just comes with practice.

Karou · Oct 22, 2015

It's real but can be a pain to use. The machine is huge and heavy, difficult to move around. It is nice that it's hands free when you are inserting so you can keep the light on and have two hands to insert the IV. I have gotten difficult sticks that I know I couldn't have gotten otherwise because I have used the vein finder.

It takes practice also.

Overall... It can be helpful. It's the best vein finding tool we have used on my unit, aside from the ultrasound (which we aren't trained on/don't have and have to call ED or ICU to do).

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

I watched Code Black on TV last night. There was a similar issue about central line insertion with US.

It boiled down to the resident learning the skill without technology, just in case the technology wasn't available.

I think the same thing holds true with IVs.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be opposed to using the light on certain patients.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

It awesome that these really exist! Never seen them used at any of my area hospitals. I am a hard stick when it comes to IVs and taking my blood, they actually had to get an ultrasound out and use it !!!
I know the pain of having a nervous nurse or tech digging blindly into your arm and it is not fun, especially when they act like it is your fault they are having issues getting your vein. I am just dread-ding the day I come across a hard stick, like myself.
But I guess I have to put my big girl scrubs on and arise to the challenge.
ha ha.

Unfortunately, it's increasingly common to find people that are hard sticks. It sucks. Everyone has diabetes and/or is on dialysis and/or is old and/or freezing cold and/or dehydrated and/or has been stuck so many times there are no veins left! I'm in my ICU/ER clinical and I have completely lost my confidence being in the ER and attempting to start IVs where, quite frankly, I shouldn't have that much difficulty doing. But, that's where the learning actually is. Everytime I mess up, I learn something new about some kind of technique or something someone else does differently to make it work for them. Even though I'm still really struggling to establish a routine as my failed attempts result in interruptions to the process, I'm still really learning. I'll get there eventually. You will, too. :)

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

I watched Code Black on TV last night. There was a similar issue about central line insertion with US.
It boiled down to the resident learning the skill without technology, just in case the technology wasn't available.
I think the same thing holds true with IVs.
On the other hand, I wouldn't be opposed to using the light on certain patients.

I happened to turn to this as the exchange was taking place and I just....I just couldn't.

I agree that we should be able to learn peripheral IVs by feeling instead of just looking for veins but really, central lines? "What is the machine was down or blah blah blah?" Marcia Gay Harden, stop with the bad stats. Then the whole thing with the immaculate conception daughter and her really aggro mom. :le sigh:

Just can't.

However, I agree that we should know how to do things without assisting technology like US but there's a reason US was developed and is recommended for use now. After seeing a vein, a nerve and an artery so perfectly on US prior to a PICC insertion, I would not want to attempt a PICC insertion without US. But these vein lights...eh, I dunno.

dec2007 · Oct 23, 2015

I think its fabulous!!!! Our ICU director bought one for our floor (they are expensive!), and it is the best thing ever!

PS: Of course every nurse should have solid IV skills without using technology. However, if we have patients who are elderly, or for other reasons are " a hard stick" (i.e.: chemo patients, etc.), it is fantastic if we can save them an extra stick!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

I happened to turn to this as the exchange was taking place and I just....I just couldn't.
I agree that we should be able to learn peripheral IVs by feeling instead of just looking for veins but really, central lines? "What is the machine was down or blah blah blah?" Marcia Gay Harden, stop with the bad stats. Then the whole thing with the immaculate conception daughter and her really aggro mom. :le sigh:
Just can't.
However, I agree that we should know how to do things without assisting technology like US but there's a reason US was developed and is recommended for use now. After seeing a vein, a nerve and an artery so perfectly on US prior to a PICC insertion, I would not want to attempt a PICC insertion without US. But these vein lights...eh, I dunno.

I work in a small rural hospital where there is no US tech after 1900. They can be called in, but I've seen patients wait for several hours for an ultrasound ordered on admit.

As far as the show....I liked it.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

I happened to turn to this as the exchange was taking place and I just....I just couldn't.
I agree that we should be able to learn peripheral IVs by feeling instead of just looking for veins but really, central lines? "What is the machine was down or blah blah blah?" Marcia Gay Harden, stop with the bad stats. Then the whole thing with the immaculate conception daughter and her really aggro mom. :le sigh:
Just can't.
However, I agree that we should know how to do things without assisting technology like US but there's a reason US was developed and is recommended for use now. After seeing a vein, a nerve and an artery so perfectly on US prior to a PICC insertion, I would not want to attempt a PICC insertion without US. But these vein lights...eh, I dunno.

Sometimes we like to diagnose PE's and start full anticoagulation based on symptoms, history, and exam alone- you know, in case the CT is ever down.

Sometimes I like to give my patients blood transfusions if they're looking pale and feeling fatigued without looking at their CBC's. In case the hematology analyzer is ever not available.

Sometimes we spend our shifts hand bagging our tubed patients. Just in case the vents ever aren't working.

And in nursing school, the made us practice counting drip rates in case pumps ever weren't available. Oh wait. This one is true.

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

Placing an IV catheter definitely requires skill, but it is not "just a skill" There is so much that should and NEEDS to be known and assessed prior to its placement as well as s/p insertion. Poor outcomes result when one thinks of it "just as a skill"

FineAgain · Oct 23, 2015

We have them in our hospital and just like anything else, some people love them and some people not so much. I agree that palpation is a much more reliable way of finding a vein but I really like the AccuVein. I don't use it often, and I still feel for the vein, but for those people who are really hard sticks, it at least shows me where the straightest part of the vein is (if it's deep) and I can see the needle "touch" the vein to make sure I'm there. You can also tell where the valves are which can be very helpful.

On an off use note, it makes tattoos look really cool. :)