nursing horror story from the other side

z's playa · May 22, 2005

What do you think of this? I was in a situation where I needed an IV. The nurse came in, set up and said she was going to start it. She looked at my veins and commented that I had great veins (they are huge and bulging) and started the procedure. Couldn't do it, said "**** I never miss, damn, I'm going to have to try another vein" Tried it on my hand, dug that needle in way deep and said "**** I can't get it, **** I never miss, damn." Started getting very agitated, kept repeating, ****, damn I never miss, you must be really dehydrated. Tried again on another vein, did not get it, again with the cursing, showed me the needle full of blood and said "See?" I'm like, OK what am I looking at here. Told me she would have to get someone else (who got it on the first try). OK I get that starting an IV can be hard, I haven't got to that part of my training yet and I am truly hoping I get a sympathetic patient, but was this really appropriate? This is the same nurse who, a few months ago when I went to get the results of my cholesteral test, pulled it up on the computer and said "Oh my God we have to tell the doctor! Oh my God that's high!" (high cholesterol runs in my family so I wasn't overly concerned) And went and called in another nurse who just sighed and told her the doctor already had the results. I have to say when I saw that nurse coming at me with an IV I was a little freaked out!

Well kudos to you for not running away :chuckle

Sounded a little inappropriate for her to be swearing in front of you like that. I've had nurses swear in front of me but they knew me and my sense of humor wouldn't mind. She sounded a little loopy though.

I do know that after 3 tries the nurse has to get someone else. I prefer 2 x myself as I'm sure .....so does the pt. Ouch.

Where your veins rolling around? My dad's do that.

Z

allnurses Guide · May 22, 2005

Well kudos to you for not running away :chuckle
Sounded a little inappropriate for her to be swearing in front of you like that. I've had nurses swear in front of me but they knew me and my sense of humor wouldn't mind. She sounded a little loopy though.
I do know that after 3 tries the nurse has to get someone else. I prefer 2 x myself as I'm sure .....so does the pt. Ouch.
Where your veins rolling around? My dad's do that.
Z

Our policy is 2 tries, then you call another nurse to try. She/he gets two tries and then you call the CRNA.

I think the nurse was inappropriate.

steph

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 22, 2005

First, the nurse should not have cursed in front of you.

Second, the nurse should have asked for assistance after the second stick. It is not a sign of weakness, though many thinks that it is

Third, even the best IV starters have bad karma on some days. I can hit plenty of invisible veins and then have someone with giant veins that I cannot feed a line in to save my life. I just accept the karma and find someone with better karma on that day.

Nursing is not an exact science. The answers change with every circumstance. Unfortunately the Public seems to think that it is. That there is a person that can hit every vein flawlessly without fail is a myth....and if you find that person, that probably cannot sink an NG or cannot place a foley or have the bedside manner of a pit viper.

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · May 22, 2005

If she gets upset over a missed IV I'd hate to see her in a real emergency. Personally I stop after 2 tries on an A&O patient, but 3 is not inappropriate. I'd also never tell a patient "I never miss"! Talk about setting yourself up for failure.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 22, 2005

Two tries and we have to pass it on to someone else. The profanity was definately inappropriate.

As was mentioned above even the best of us miss on people with ropes for veins.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 22, 2005

I hear ya, Leopold. Except I had a nightmare of an MA in my doctor's office who simply wouldn't stop trying to dig around in my arm searching for the vein. After I pleaded for her to stop about 4 times, I eventually was turfed over to the Lab, where a warm pack finally got some results.

PS The only person doing the cussing was me--at the jerk of an MA who would just not give up. My arms were bruised from my hands to my elbows for a week and I had friends giving my husband weird looks.

So I've vowed--and I recommend you do this as well--if someone can't get the vein in 2 sticks, MAKE them stop and get someone else. The cussing was completely inappropriate, as others have said.

live4today, RN · May 22, 2005

I agree with the others that the nurse's profanity was uncalled for. If I had a nurse use profanity like that in my presence, she would have only got the FIRST word of profanity out of her mouth. I would NOT have tolerated any more, and would have sent her out of the room to fetch someone else with a more professional approach to patient care. I will rarely let healthcare workers know that I'm also a healthcare worker when the situation arises with me as a patient/client. I like to see how they present themselves as healthcare workers first. If I get a really good one, when it is time for me to leave, I comment to them on how great they were. :)

My estranged spouse always bragged about starting IVs with his first try. I'm good, but wouldn't brag about it in case I get a patient that thinks I'm the one who won't stick him/her more than once, then I end up not getting it in. Better to have the patient say "Wow! You are good!" than to have the patient say "I thought you said you never missed the first try?" :rotfl:

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 22, 2005

PS I forgot to ask---are you sure that's a nurse who did that? In a doc's office, those folks doing things like starting IVs and things are not always nurses, you know.