Need help IV discontinue

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 8, 2014

I have just been hired as a PCT at a hospital. I have been a CNA for 5 years but never in a hospital. We are required to remove IVs I have never done this, any tips???[/quote']
Yes...look up the policy and procedure of the facility first and plan to follow it. Seriously....if you don't know how to do it this isn't the place to learn. You need to first know policy and procedure.

VANurse2010 · Mar 8, 2014

Your unit probably has a staff educator who can go over the procedure and formally competency you on it. See your director.

Katie71275 · Mar 9, 2014

Yes your unit should teach you this. It honestly is not hard at all. Just 2 hints...1)Make sure that you turn any fluids OFF before removing otherwise you will make a mess and 2)Make sure that your cath tip is intact. You should be able to follow a nurse or another tech and learn this pretty quickly.

melcolbstorm · Mar 9, 2014

THANK YOU for these hints!!! I need them!!! For our facility--the nurses will turn off the fluids (I don't quite understand why they don't pull out the IV too, but hey what do I know??). The floor I am assigned (Tele) is extremely short staffed, so I will be orientating next week with a PCT from Oncology for 3 days, I plan to ask her and any other PCTs if I can follow them and watch all their procedures. and then in two weeks I follow a PCT from my floor for 3 days. I just want to do the procedure right. I want the patient taken care of properly

generalRN2008 · Mar 9, 2014

Don't follow more than a day. You do the tasks as the trainer explains it so you can be signed off and feel safe working

sandyfeet · Mar 10, 2014

I use alcohol gel to loosen up the tape before pulling it off their skin. People like this because it doesn't pull arm hair or skin. I used to only do this for children and the elderly but now I do it for almost every patient, unless they are in a hurry.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 10, 2014

The key is to stabilize the IV catheter while removing the dressing. Be careful with patients on Coumadin because they tend to bleed. The first patient I removed an IV from was on Coumadin and I wasn't wearing gloves (I know stupid, right, but stupid can be and has been fixed) and needless to say there was blood all over my hands. Have a gauze and tape/band-aid ready to apply. Open the packaging before you remove the catheter so you have it ready. Hold pressure for a couple seconds and tape tightly if you can. Some elderly patients have very fragile skin so paper tape is the way to go for them. For everyone else, I will use a band-aid over gauze or the silk tape.

Amistad, RN · Mar 10, 2014

I use alcohol gel to loosen up the tape before pulling it off their skin. People like this because it doesn't pull arm hair or skin. I used to only do this for children and the elderly but now I do it for almost every patient unless they are in a hurry.[/quote']
What do you mean by alcohol gel? Hand sanitizer? Can you use an alcohol swab? This would be a helpful tip for me :)

nynursey_ · Mar 10, 2014

Everyone has their own tips and tricks. ? While looking at the procedure is the best starting point, I assume you wanted those little extras to help.

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2014

First of all, You must refer to your organizations P&P and follow it step by step. And, as others have said, someone should be assessing your technique and verifying that you are competent in preforming this procedure.

An alcohol pad may help to loosen the adhesive of the dressing covering the IV site, but do NOT use an alcohol pad when placing pressure on the site after its removal. Alcohol promotes bleeding and burns. Also do not use a cotton ball as its fibers can adhere to the formed "plug" and then the scab is removed when you remove the cotton ball. (Use a 2x2) Hold pressure after its removal 2-6 minutes, which is the clotting cascade times. This time varies depending on medication, disease processes etc.

In addition, always remove the IV catheter FLUSH with the skin. Never at an angle as you can predispose the pt to what is called "discontinuated generated mechanical phlebitis".

melcolbstorm · Mar 10, 2014

That's awesome!!!!!!!!!!!When you say alcohol gel, you mean the gel we use to clean our hands?? How do you use it? Do you put on top of the tape or below as you are taking off?? THANK YOU for the tip!!!