IV help

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

Hey all,

I'm at work and feel so defeated. I need real help when it comes to IVs. Lately I can't get any and am not even getting flashes most of the time. I feel horrible if I have to an IV because I feel like I will miss and that I will hurt the pt and then they may be leary of me the rest of the shift.

I'm at work and had to draw a simple blood culture tube from a person who seemed to have veins and both times I tried, I didn't get a flash. :(

I'm a good nurse in most ways and but want to become great at IVs and feel it's an impossibility.

Back when I was a new nurse, I did OK at IVs and blood draws. Then I didn't do any draws for a couple years. Now I do them occasionally like once a week or so..and just feel like I have no skills and no nothing. Do I go in too slow? Do I go in too far? Is the patient a hard stick or is just me? Why does the vein look blown when I don't even get a flash? Granted, a lot of the population I deal with have horrible veins and even the best starts have a hard time. But the other times, I would like to just go into a patient's room and get the IV, feel proud and have a great shift. I am getting depressed. Yes I know it takes practice but this is ridiculous. I can't remember the last time I had a successful IV; I couldn't even get a simple LAB draw!!

I am Phoenix, AZ and would love to attend a workshop, class or something to work with someone on this. We don't have an IV team here so it's hard to "follow" someone. Please any suggestions on classes, workshops, ideas because this is ludicrous.

Thanks so much.

Zach T.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I'm sure you are alreadt doing this, but are you checking different sites? Or do You usually look at one or two usual ones? Just a thought.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Zach do you not have a preceptor you can go to and ask for guidance with this?

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

I am a nurse with four years experience and good in many ways. But I'm desperate for IV help!! Thanks.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Limited ER & OB.

When I was working Med/surg I had no practice at all as most IV's were already in when I arrived and I was horrible when I did need to start one. I now work in same day surgery and can start as many as eight a day. I still have hit or miss days, will generally not try again after two attempts, as there are other nurses available, and can usually get at least 95%. I would fellow employees know you are needing some practice, because thats what it takes, and offer to start their IV's if time allows. Also, our anesthetist has provided many helpful suggestions such as using BP cuffs on elderly, using warm packs before hand, etc. Don't get to discouraged, but do try to get as much experience as you can. Our lab allows us to assist with blood draws which is very helpful,too.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
Hey all,

I'm at work and feel so defeated. I need real help when it comes to IVs. Lately I can't get any and am not even getting flashes most of the time. I feel horrible if I have to an IV because I feel like I will miss and that I will hurt the pt and then they may be leary of me the rest of the shift.

I'm at work and had to draw a simple blood culture tube from a person who seemed to have veins and both times I tried, I didn't get a flash. :(

I'm a good nurse in most ways and but want to become great at IVs and feel it's an impossibility.

Back when I was a new nurse, I did OK at IVs and blood draws. Then I didn't do any draws for a couple years. Now I do them occasionally like once a week or so..and just feel like I have no skills and no nothing. Do I go in too slow? Do I go in too far? Is the patient a hard stick or is just me? Why does the vein look blown when I don't even get a flash? Granted, a lot of the population I deal with have horrible veins and even the best starts have a hard time. But the other times, I would like to just go into a patient's room and get the IV, feel proud and have a great shift. I am getting depressed. Yes I know it takes practice but this is ridiculous. I can't remember the last time I had a successful IV; I couldn't even get a simple LAB draw!!

I am Phoenix, AZ and would love to attend a workshop, class or something to work with someone on this. We don't have an IV team here so it's hard to "follow" someone. Please any suggestions on classes, workshops, ideas because this is ludicrous.

Thanks so much.

ach I have been a member of av IV team for 21 years and it is an art form. I have trained hundreds of nurses and my favorites are the ones I plucked from other units and trained them to love it as much as I do. First ...... Get Knowledge ,,,,buy an intravenous book ...I would purchase sharon weinsteins......not a drug book.....you would be suprised what you do not know.... I was many moons ago....if you are not a self-starter most communities have an IV therapy course with a didactic component. no IV team I would go to the ER and hook up with a nurse that has a good reputation with vascular access. I can tell you the two most common problems I have seen with trying to cannulate a suitable vein..... Most nurses go too deep and make a through and through puncture...if done quickly enough.....you can see no blood in the flaschback chamber and then when you pull the device back ah ha a hematoma the next thing see is that once you do get your flash ,,,immediately drop you angle usually flush with the skin and thread device just a little bit more an eight of an inth or so then pull the needle back and advance the remainder of the catheter. Do not get discouraged get knowledge and find a good mentor

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