Needle in a vein question

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2006

If you are drawing blood or inserting an IV can a patient feel if the needle is in the vein or not?

I don't think so.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 7, 2006

When I've missed an IV and tried to thread it is more painful for the patient than if I thread when I've gotten it. That said there are precious few patients that have had enough IV's that they could accurately tell the difference.

TazziRN, RN · Jul 7, 2006

No, but if you try to thread a too-large-bore into a small vein some can feel that---the sensation of the edges scraping along the venous wall.

awayhod · Jul 7, 2006

The pain assiocatiated with an IV stick is from the nerves at skin level, unless you happen to hit a nerve that may be close to the outside of the vien since nerves, arteries and viens tend to be in bundles. So, not really. The pressure can be felt. On a missed IV attempt, you are in the connective tissue, and closer to the nerves, that is why they can be more painful than a succesful stick. Another point, the size of the needle does not matter. A 22ga causes the same pain as a 16ga, since the nerve endings are not as finely differeniated as they are at the finger tips.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Jul 7, 2006

The pain assiocatiated with an IV stick is from the nerves at skin level, unless you happen to hit a nerve that may be close to the outside of the vien since nerves, arteries and viens tend to be in bundles. So, not really. The pressure can be felt. On a missed IV attempt, you are in the connective tissue, and closer to the nerves, that is why they can be more painful than a succesful stick. Another point, the size of the needle does not matter. A 22ga causes the same pain as a 16ga, since the nerve endings are not as finely differeniated as they are at the finger tips.

Im going to disagree, in fact I have had pts tell me a 22ga cath hurts more than an 18ga. My theory is that the large bevel of an 18ga cath often times completely severes a nerve/nerve ending at which point it receeds out of the way. Where as a 22ga might only patially severe or even fit entirely within the boarders of a nerve and remain there the whole time you are trying to start a line.

Rj