PIV inserted into an artery! EEK!

Nurses General Nursing

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So in 4yrs of nursing, I inserted my first ever PIV into an a/c artery! .......really surprised me as the "vein" was right there on top screaming "pick me" LOL

Thankfully the patient is a montly IV infusion pt, who is a very hard stick and was very good about it. I said, "too bad we don't need a blood gas on you", and she said, "see these scars (on her inside wrist about 8), these are where they TRIED to get a blood gas!".........thank goodness for terrific patients :)

How often if ever has this happened to you?

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Specializes in Oncology.

Never. Granted, never is also the number of times I've inserted a PIV.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i've done it before.

as long as you realized it right away and applied alot of pressure afterwards, you're ok.

it happens to the best of us :)

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

It happens. See our thread in the ER nurses forum. ;)

I figured it out when I didn't hold pressure hard enough and blood went flying.

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Specializes in Education and oncology.

I did it by accident on a little guy with asthma- was digging in his chubby foot and got pulsing back in the line. Oops. Too bad he didn't need an art line-this was in the PICU.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

It happens all the time in our PICU. It's usually noticed right away and either taken advantage of or taken out. It's especially easy to do if you're trying for a scalp vein. We had a baby come back from the OR with a transduced art line in her scalp last week. (The OR note said the anaesthetist had actually placed TWO in scalp arteries...) It lasted for several days before we had to take it out.

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