IV catheter styles...what one is safer?

[AmandaC83]

I just started at a new hospital today and the IV catheter style that theu showed in class room orientation is different than what I have used. I am familiar with the IV catheters that has a " clicking" shield over the needle, basically after you get flash, you retract the needle and a shield comes over it and you keep going until tou hear or feel the click. At the new hospital, they use a catheter that after you are in the vein you pull out the needle and push a white button and it retracts the needle. I feel like the push buttom is so unsafe, since you pull out the needle. Has anyone else used both and have an opinion on what they like better? Did the educate me wrong and there is a safer way to retract the needle?

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

No, they did not educate you wrong. When I was doing RN training (which I had to abandon for personal reasons), I found the school used one, Hospital A would use a different one and Hospital B would use the one like I had in school.

It really comes down to what the facility uses. I don't know which one I preferred. Both seemed to do ok, yet we are creatures of habit and once we are used to one way, it is hard to get used to the other way.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I've used both types you described. I actually prefer the one with the white button. They both have features that minimize the risk of needlesticks. I think it's just a matter of being more comfortable in using one design over the other. Because the law does not specify a single safety mechanism that manufacturers must adhere to when designing intravenous catheters, safety devices come in many different forms.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

BTW, with the white button, you don't necessarily have to push the button after you pull the metal needle out entirely. You could push the button halfway through once you get a flash and have advanced the catheter to the hub. Just be prepared to hold pressure distally from the insertion site so you don't make a mess.

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

The push button IV catheter, most likely is the Insyte Autoguard and it is an active safety device. Meaning, in order to be a safety device the clinician MUST activate the safety aspect of it, and yes, unfortunately, one could bypass that safety aspect of the catheter. A passive safety IV catheter is a better choice, but if this catheter is used correctly, it does the job.

[offlabel]

Safety is in the hands of the operator, not the device, IMO.

[Dave_In_Florida, ADN, LPN, RN]

We use the white push-button style exclusively in our facility. I always half retract the needle from the cath, then push the button before pulling the needle all the way.

No safety method is 100% fool proof. It's always a possibility of an accidental stick. All you can do is be aware every time there is an open needle in the room.

[lavenderskies, BSN]

I've used both. I prefer the simpler one with the white click retractor button. The other one is fine but it's harder the retract the needle....operator preference.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Safety is in the hands of the operator, not the device, IMO.

Much like guns. I can teach you the right way to use product a and product b, but its up to you to use it properly.