IV starts

Published

Hi All...

Just wondering what are some tricks of the trade on IV starts ?? I'm about 65% success rate when it comes to them (and obviously depending on how swollen mom is) but i would love to become more efficient with these. I hate having to pull another L/D nurse away to do my IV! I know it comes with practice...i usally can get them in the hand but i try to use that as a last resort. Our standard is to draw CBC and Hold clots , then we usually start the IV from the same site. Half of the time my veins BLOW...HELP HELP HELP!! :o

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

We call them Leur Locks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
We call them Leur Locks.

Thanks...that's what we call them. Just making sure I knew what was being talked about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

I know this isn't being looked at anymore but other names I have heard for INT caps include: Leur locks, Hep locks, Hep wells, Saline locks, PRN adapters, locks, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in nursery, L and D.

We call them med-locks where I am now. We should have a universal name, so everyone is on the same page! I still tend to call them hep-locks, and get funny looks from newer nurses and residents!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, ICU, ER, MS,.

I have been an RN for over 15 years and I am pretty good with IV's because we do alot of them in our little hospital.

But everyone has spurts where they just miss a vein once in a while. I make it my practice to only stick twice. Then I will go get someone else. I hardly ever have to get help, but every once in a while I do and I try not to sweat it.. So just remember that even when you have more experience... there are still times when it just doesn't happen

Don't be too hard on yourself. You will aquire this skill over time. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.
INT caps are called by other names, the INT stands for intermittent, but it is the cap you put on the end of tubing or the cannula to turn a regular IV into a saline lock so you can flush it intermittently and maintain your line. I am old, and we called them INT's, not sure what the real name is. Back in the day, we called them heparin locks because we flushed them with heparin every shift.
I always called the Heplocks, we also call them PVAD's where I work.

Now, to original poster, I use the hand 98% of the time. Our patients only have IV's in for ~24 hours. (For lady partsl delivery. Sometimes less). I have close to 100% success rate. Skin is thinner on the hand, quick to insert etc. Anyone here see any reason not to use the hand? I always ask my patients first and no one ever has a problem with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion