neonatal IV sticks

[smbluthing]

Hi,

I know sometime this thread has been done before, but I can not find it.

I was hoping you would all take the time to do it again.

I want all your IV stick tricks of the trades kind of thing.

Where do you like to start an IV and why?

What are your tips for difficult sticks. How many times do you try, needle type preferences etc. tourniquet or not?

Big neonates, micropremies any and all tips appreciated.

Thanks so much

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

After 15 months, I'm beginning to take it personally that I'm not good at it. :)

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

In our unit, we are not permittted to use antecubital and saphenous sticks because those are reserved for PICC lines. Only NNP's and respiratory stick arterials...radial or otherwise.

So start with hands, feet, head last.

What helped me: I finally figured out that you need someone to hold the baby unless you have them swaddled good with maybe silk tape to help, because if they jump, you'll lose the line. Have the needle almost level with the skin before you stick and when you flush, don't just push it in with all the force you have...b/c that alone can blow a line.