Question about IV's

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Hello everyone, I had a question about IV's. When nurses say "The vein blew" what do they mean by this? What actually happens when veins blow after attempts of IV insertion? Or when they say "Oh thats a good vein" what does it take to be a good vein? Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU.

A good vein:

plump

bouncy when you feel it and push on it a little

straight

A bad vein:

skinny

you can't feel it

crooked and splits off

When a vein is blown, that means the catheter is no longer in it and it is leaking blood or iv fluid into the interstitial space. This causes bruising and/or swelling and bleeding/leaking.

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so the catheter goes in and out of the vein?

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what does it take to be a good vein?

Hard work and determination.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself :D

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Specializes in Transgender Medicine.
so the catheter goes in and out of the vein?

Not exactly. When inserting the IV initially, the needle may go right on through the vein and out the other side on accident, which allows blood to flow out of the opening just created by the needle. Also, some medications are vesicants, which means that they can be terribly damaging to a vein. After receiving these kinds of meds over time, or if improperly administered, the meds can "burn" a hole in the vein, and then the fluids/meds leak into the surrounding tissues. Very ugly site at times, especially when not caught soon after the leaking begins. Sometimes the site will merely just swell with the fluids going in, and sometimes the fluids/meds destroy the tissue when they break out of the vein through a breach.

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Hard work and determination.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself :D

:yeah:Ha ha-TOO FUNNY -YOU GOT A LAUGH ON THAT ONE !!!!!!!!

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Not exactly. When inserting the IV initially, the needle may go right on through the vein and out the other side on accident, which allows blood to flow out of the opening just created by the needle. Also, some medications are vesicants, which means that they can be terribly damaging to a vein. After receiving these kinds of meds over time, or if improperly administered, the meds can "burn" a hole in the vein, and then the fluids/meds leak into the surrounding tissues. Very ugly site at times, especially when not caught soon after the leaking begins. Sometimes the site will merely just swell with the fluids going in, and sometimes the fluids/meds destroy the tissue when they break out of the vein through a breach.

This is sooo helpful and I am sure that when I DO THIS I WILL REMEMBER IT B/C I COULD PICTURE IT HAPPENING....GOOD JOB!! THANKS:urck:

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

It does get easier in time with venous sticks! It is easier for some than it is for others, but it time, you'll totally get it!

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