Learning IVs

[kt123]

Hi everyone,

The facility that I work at is no longer letting new nurses learn/gain experience in starting IVs in same day surgery anymore because of declining patient satisfaction scores. We're trying to figure out other departments that may provide a great learning arena for this skill and how others in the field gained their experience in learning IVs?? What have you done?

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

I found a partially sedated pt who happened to also be in restraints!! Excellent 1st patient!! Too make it even better he was physically healthy and 35 with great big fat veins.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

How about ED? They need all kinds of IVs.

I've found most students/new grads worry about not getting the IVs too much and it impacts their success. In the ED, you are too busy to worry. I've found that they busier they are, the more successful they are...

[Achoo!, LPN]

I work med/surg and we always have opportunities. Direct admits need 1st lines, but there are also patients whose lines go bad, or it has been 4 days and they need a fresh one.

[Fun2, BSN, RN]

I got most of my 'practice sticks' in the emergency room clinical rotation during 3rd and 4th semester.

See if you can float to the ED for practice at least once a week until you feel more in control with your IV starts.

[jjjoy, LPN]

How frustrating! It may not be satisfying to a patient to be a guinea pig to someone learning, but it's a small price to pay for that person to become proficient and later be able to quickly start an IV in an emergent situation - maybe even saving that dissatisfied patient who got stuck by someone just learning!

Seriously, I do think patients who are terribly adverse to needles should have the right to refuse being 'learned on'. But folks have to start learning somewhere and if everyone has the choice, they will choose someone with the most experience... so there's got to be ways for people to learn. That means a bit more pain for some, but worth it overall for the greater good. It would seem a hit worth taking in regard to satisfaction scores. Sigh!

ED does sound like a good place for practice... hopefully your facility will agree to that or something else. Good luck finding a solution!!!

[al7139, ASN, RN]

I had 2 attempts at starting an IV in school that failed. I was so nervous the first time as a nurse starting an IV, but I had a great preceptor, and she walked me through it to a successful start. Now after a short year as a nurse, more experienced nurses are coming to me to do hard sticks.

The truth is that many nurses don't get good practice until after school, and you do get better with practice.

[RNSuzq1, RN]

KT,

I did my Senior Precepting in my hospitals Endoscopy Clinic - just for the IV experience. They did tons of procedures a day, every Pt had to have an IV and most had pretty decent veins. The Nurses were so busy filling out all the pre-procedure paperwork, they were more than willing to let me start all the IV's I wanted to - great experience. Hope this helps...

[wanderlust99]

I think your facility should let you start ivs on your own pts. It's not like you are a nursing student!

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Do you have an IV therapy department. Either way the best advice I can give you is to find someone to train you that is really good at it. MANY years ago Marcia Ryder an expert in the field of infusion therapy told us during an advanced IV therapy class that an IV catheter is a weapon in the hands of someone who does not know how to use it. Well I never forgot that and with the many years I have practiced IV Therapy I know how true that is. First, hit the books and review the step by step procedures on how to start an IV. Next review everything you can about IV therapy. Then go find yourself someone to be your preceptor and this can be the place or unit you are working on.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

I personally am thinking that during my orientation that I want to go with our "IV team" they get all the IVs in the hospital that floor nurses can't get. do you have anything similar in your facility?

[snortzmom]

My 1st year of nursing is up tomorrow! I found it helpful to use non-latex gloves (for some reason I can feel the bounce of the vein more than latex), and don't stick a vein you can't feel. I have been tricked often by veins I can see but not feel. It is easiest to stick in the AC space or the wrist (which hurts more but hey at least you can get a line in), and about 80% of IV's I try in the forearm blow.. Just my 2 cents..