does any nurse do EJ's in the ER

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I am looking for any nurse that do EJ's in the ER. I am trying to see what kind of policy if any that any one might have

Lots of nurses do EJs in our ED (AZ). I haven't been checked off yet because I am still a new grad. Recently I had a pt request I put her IV in her boob because that was the only place they could get her. I was so shocked. I didn't know the policy and couldn't find information on it so I refused. I contacted my CM who was able to start it in the pt's boob. It was so odd though. lol Glad to see that they are not as rare as I thought.

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Techs are allowed to start EJs in my ER, but not nurses. New protocol within the last year of so. Before that, nurses did it too.

Only techs are allowed to do IOs too.

Oh well....

So unlicensed staff are allowed to start EJs, but licensed nurses with education and training are not?

I would seriously question that policy.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I agree ... seems really counter- ... well, counterEVERYTHING! Counterproductive, counter-intuitive ...

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Specializes in General Surgery, Orthopaedics, ICU, ER.
an EJ is a peripheral iv that goes into the external jugular vein

Thanks! I know what you're all talking about now, we just call them a different name lol.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Many of our nurses start IV's in EJ's. However, I do not personally start EJ's. If it is that difficult to get access, I prefer central lines and PICCs.

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the last hospital i worked at allowed RN's to do it. you just had to be watched by the charge nurse while you did 3 of them to make sure you did it properly

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In our ER, RNs are not supposed to, however, we have one that does and she says, "Dr. So and So did a great job on that EJ." I tell her, I'm happy he did, and would you please now document just what a great job "he" did with it.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.

In my ED anyone who takes the four hour class to learn how to do them is able to. I personally have no desire to learn how to, the last thing I need to worry about is jabbing an IV into someone's carotid on accident lol. We also have a class for ultrasound guided IVs, but most of us don't like using them due to high rate of infiltration.

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Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.
So unlicensed staff are allowed to start EJs, but licensed nurses with education and training are not?

I would seriously question that policy.

" medically delegated act " and because of the messed up way in which most US states place restrictions on different groups of health professionals from undertaking interventions regarldess of training and education it's not suprising ...

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Yes we do. A vein is a vein. EJ are quite large and can very easily accommodate 18g or larger IVs.

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I live in Ky and we can access any vein necessary, we just usually inform the Doc prior in case they want to put in a central line...$$$$$ Shoulder veins are great because they are seldom accessed and they are larger than they appear. Breast veins are also good just be sure you are accessing it correctly (flowing toward the heart). Why stick someone who has no peripheral veins when you can usually bet they have great EJs? We have a lot of IV drug users with no access peripherally so I just go right for the EJs and don't mess around, especially in drug overdoses! Have them turn their neck and puff out their cheeks and they pop up great!

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