Peds IV Tips

nursepotter05, RN · Jun 26, 2005

One of the most important things is to be honest with the child. Tell him that it is going to hurt. We tell them that some kids say it feels like a pinch. Get all of the supplies you need set up and ready. Explain things on their level. We tell the little ones we are looking for their best blue line. We tell them that we are leaving a straw in the arm to give their blue lines a drink in. We have freezy spray which takes a some of the edge off the stick. I will also stress the importance of getting help. We have someone lay over the child which secures the legs. The person laying over holds the arm at the shoulder in order to keep it from moving. The nurse hold the hand secure and sticks. TAPE is very important!! Tape that baby up GOOD! We have armboards and "no no's" we put over the iv site to cover them up with.

maxcat · Jun 26, 2005

I'm not a nurse (yet) but am interested in this thread... my 14 month old was in the hospital last week for 2 days and they could *not* get an IV started for anything. She was slightly dehydrated and each IV start blew out. They probably stuck her 5 or 6 times (both arms, both feet, hands...). This was primarily just for fluids-no medications through IV. I couldn't even stand to be in the little room where they did it... she screamed and screamed and I just couldn't stand it. They told me it was better anyways for me to be the "good guy" after it was over. I asked for EMLA cream and they said no-that it didn't work (I know that's not true because I've had EMLA for an IV before). They were not rushed for time either. It all just seemed a little excessive to me... she ended up just nursing and drinking juice and she was fine-dehydration solved. The 2 IV's that they did successfully start only lasted a few minutes-both infiltrated and were removed.

They had tons of movies, toys, etc... in that room to help distract the kids while the IV was being started. Not sure how well they worked-sure didn't work with my baby.

btw, does not wanting to watch my own baby get an IV mean I won't be able to do it as a nurse??

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jun 26, 2005

I'm not a nurse (yet) but am interested in this thread... my 14 month old was in the hospital last week for 2 days and they could *not* get an IV started for anything. She was slightly dehydrated and each IV start blew out. They probably stuck her 5 or 6 times (both arms, both feet, hands...). This was primarily just for fluids-no medications through IV. I couldn't even stand to be in the little room where they did it... she screamed and screamed and I just couldn't stand it. They told me it was better anyways for me to be the "good guy" after it was over. I asked for EMLA cream and they said no-that it didn't work (I know that's not true because I've had EMLA for an IV before). They were not rushed for time either. It all just seemed a little excessive to me... she ended up just nursing and drinking juice and she was fine-dehydration solved. The 2 IV's that they did successfully start only lasted a few minutes-both infiltrated and were removed.
They had tons of movies, toys, etc... in that room to help distract the kids while the IV was being started. Not sure how well they worked-sure didn't work with my baby.
btw, does not wanting to watch my own baby get an IV mean I won't be able to do it as a nurse??

Sometimes kids are just very hard sticks. We have had children that no one could start a line on... even the anesthesiology. When kids get dehydrated, sometimes their veins become very fragile... and EMLA sometimes makes it worse... the few veins you do have can just sink away and shrivel up. They probably felt that using EMLA might decrease the few choices they did have left.

We do tell parents to be the comforter (good guy). If they want to come, thats ok but it is fine for them to leave as well. About half of our parents cannot stand to be around when their child is getting an IV started. It is very frusterating for them... it is against your nature as a parent to let your child go through a procedure that is extremely scary and painful for them. The procedure room with distractions is common (actually a standard) and very useful, even though it doesn't always work. It works better with older kids.

You'll do fine as a nurse. I work peds full time, and if it were my daughter... I would not be able to go into the room and watch.

mommatrauma, RN · Jun 26, 2005

The only time my son needed an IV was when he was born preemie...umbilical lines..aline..blood draws, etc.etc. I left the room for every stick...not because I didn't think I could handle it per se but more because I didn't want them to have the added pressure that i was an ER nurse lurking over them while they stuck him...Its a whole different ballgame when its your own...nothing wrong with wanting to leave the room...noone wants to see their child have to suffer even though you know its going to help them...