IV Sites

I can think of 10 off the top of my head that are the most commonly used sites.

This sounds a lot like a homework assignment. As much as we like to help, why don't you post what you have and maybe we can help from there.

I also just googled and found about 15 pages that are full of great info. Maybe refine you search and see what you come up with.

Oh ok. I can try that. It is my personal homework assignment. I want to know them all before I do an IV in clinicals. Whenever we checked off on the skill and learned it last 8 weeks the teachers did not talk alot about specific sites. The documenting system at the hospital I'm at has the list but, the only way to look at it is when you are documenting that you started an IV. I have: arterial assess device, antecubital r/l, arm r/l, arm r/l lower, arm r/l upper, arterial line r/l, basilic vein r/l, brachial r/l, & central multilumen blue. If you notice they are somewhat in alphabetical order because I wrote them down in class whenever we were being registered to give meds. I asked the teacher and she said she didn't have a copy of the list & that I should try looking them up online.

I didn't know there was a formal list. We put them wherever we can find a decent vein. I guess you can add "hand r/l" to your list...in babies I've also seen IVs in the scalp and feet.

I too have never heard of a "formal list". You can pretty much stick a person (literally) from head to foot, wherever you can find a decent vein and however bad the need for IV access is. Then there are the more "classic" locations (AC, forearm, hand, scalp/feet for peds). How do you feel a formal list would help you in skills lab? Are you concerned about finding veins?

Not concerned with finding veins but I figured it'd help as far as documenting. If it's not something to worry about then I won't

I wouldn't worry about it. Typically when you document an IV insert, you will document location, not vein. So you would say "right forearm" rather than "right basilic vein."

Oh ok! Thank you for clarifying that! I understand what you mean! I just wanted to make sure that I was fully prepared!

Good for you for thinking ahead!! :)

That's a head scatcher. There isn't a list. If you need a vein use whatever you find.

Some drugs have a short half-life and be used pushed in extremely distal sites, but otherwise if you can see it stick it.

Just document as something simple. Back of hand. Inner forearm. Left index finger. Right EJ. Left inner calf.

Thank you all! This is one less thing to worry about!

As you apparently have discovered at your clinical site, it depends on the program and the facility's specific requirements. Some facilities simply want a vague description (left forearm), some want more detail (left dorsal forearm), and some want the actual vein. Our facility used to want the actual vein...but many of us (myself included) don't always get that right. They became worried that we would have too much misdocumentation, so now we just do a more vague, geographic description, with the option of adding more detail.

Just an FYI.

As others have said, you just find whatever vein you can find.

ER loves to stick them all in the AC unless it's a really bad vein. They don't heplock their IVs either (at least not at my hospital!)

As far as documentation goes, if it's in the AC, we document "#20 in L (or R) AC." Anywhere else it's just the general location...R/L arm, forearm, wrist, hand...and of course the gauge #.