elephant4

Our techs are skilled at IV starts, but wonder if they can use lidocaine to start IV's or if that is strictly a nursing function since it is a medication. We could write a policy, but I am wondering if anyone else is doing this out there, and if it is OK?

Very effective! I was trained to start IV's using this technique and over the past 20 years I have mostly worked ER, but now am in radiology where I still start lots of IV's and people constantly thank me for the lidocaine. Many times they don't even feel it with the 29 ga insulin needle I use to inject it. I have tried saline which does very little to help discomfort and plain 1% lidocaine, but prefer the buffered 1% which is practically painless. Does anyone know if the radiology techs can use this technique, or is it strictly to be used by nurses? It is a medication so I wondered if that is possible or not. I am sure we could write a policy that covers it if needed and have it approved by our medical director. What do you all know about that?

We have not started ours yet but will be in the next couple of months and I have heard from one of the CT people that it is preferable to use oral doses if possible rather than IV to slow the rate. It was one dose the night before and then another in the AM I think. It was supposed to be more reliable and gentler (or less reactive) I think. What do you all know about that as a protocol?