Vein Finders: Yes/No?

PeakRN · Dec 3, 2017

I wouldn't even consider using one until you have honed your IV skills without one, and hopefully by that time you will have tried several from your workplace and figured out which one works best.

Other than a wee sight or red LED flashlight I wouldn't consider buying or using any peripheral vein illuminator, and I only use that on neonates/infants/young toddlers. There have been multiple studies that address the usefulness of near-infrared type devices and they typically offer very little benefit at best. My current facility has a handful of accuvein devices, but I have yet to see someone find and cannulate a vein that couldn't have been found with a $10 red LED flashlight. Furthermore we don't use near-infrared devices in any of our critical care units, and we only use the wee sight in NICU and Peds ED. At a certain point the vessels that you find won't even last long and probably shouldn't be used for anything with even remotely vesicant.

AJJKRN · Dec 3, 2017

Second what the above poster said but I will add that unless you find one cheap that also has an attachment that with hold it above the potential IV site than they are even more un-useful.

While vein finders are nice they often aren't useful or even handy in emergent situations so learning old school is better IMHO.

SouthpawRN · Dec 3, 2017

We have them (laser/IR type) in the ER, they are good for finding veins on little ones, but they won't show deep veins on the obese or diabetic patients with no palpable veins. We use ultrasound IV for difficult sticks. I just did the class for that and it was really interesting. BTW Vein finders don't work with tattoos either. As a nursing student though, If you can just use one at your facility to look and follow your own veins and that of your classmates or coworkers, I think that is very beneficial to see the vein layout on various people. Otherwise it's just practice as the other posters have said. If you have access to someone trained in IV ultrasound, get them to show you and practice feeling the difficult veins to find verifying with ultrasound. That will probably help you get a better feel for what is a vein and what is not.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 3, 2017

Thank you! So far a lot of the people on this floor have been a tough stick.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Dec 3, 2017

I actually own the Venoscope II and have used the AccuVein and both are OK and can be helpful but ultrasound is the gold standard for any difficult stick from infant through centenarian.

I actually prefer the Venoscope to the AccuVein because the image on the latter is disturbed by manipulating the skin while the former is a direct visualization.

MikeyT-c-IV · Dec 8, 2017

If you have an ultrasound lying around the hospital I'd encourage you to get training on how to use it for IV starts. I've been using ultrasound for IV starts since about 2006 and have since gotten my skill to over 99% one stick. The patients will LOVE you for this and it saves me a lot of time and wasted supplies.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Dec 8, 2017

Some love it, some hate it (the expensive hospital owned one). Personally, I haven't had any increased luck with it. Bad veins are bad veins. Now, ultrasound I have heard much better stories. We don't have access to one of those for floor staff.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2017

You might also want to check with your employer - using equipment that hasn't been approved/ validated is not allowed in some places of employment.

Gravity, a warm compress or warm blanket to the area for a few minutes and other IV tricks can make a huge difference. Proper positioning of the extremity and taking a minute to a good assessment for an appropriate vein to stick is also beneficial. When I've had the occasional patient grumble that I'm looking to long for a vein as I'm palpating potential sites my "go to" line is that I figured they would prefer me poking them with my finger versus a needle, said in the right tone of voice this usually elicits a smile and they relax (which also helps).

If you are using a different brand of IV cath than you've previously used, take some time to "get to know it". Different catheters have different little idiosyncrasies that can make successful sticks a little more challenging until you figure them out.

I'm also a huge fan of LED (make sure it's LED and not a traditional bulb) on the underside of a thinner hard stick patient works wonders too. Since it's a flashlight, there's not the "approved equipment issue:)