Simulating arm veins for practice IV's

[linda2097]

How does idea sound for teaching others how to start IV's?

Roll up a towel so it is as thick as a human arm. Put IV tubing on top of it so it looks like a vein. Then put tegaderm on top of the fake vein and towel. Then practice starting IV's on it. Any better ideas?

[keithjones]

nothing i can think of would come close to the real thing.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I think that for the price the Needlepoints products IVY Arm isn't too bad, I mean its not anywhere near perfect but its not bad to at least try a few times before you just go at it with a real patient.

!Chris

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

Pre-nursing student here... Do students still "practice" on each others' veins for this? This is probably my biggest concern (fear, if you wish) in starting nursing school next year. I'm not thrilled at the thought that the first time a classmate will be attempting this would be on me.

Perhaps some schools do but not many schools that I know of have students practice on each other. In fact, from what I've been told not many schools teach inserting IVs or phlebotomy anymore because its considered invasive and so those are skills that must be learned on the job.

!Chris

[siafulinux]

I actually made a practice arm for school. Modelled the arm after my own and added fish tank tubing, then covered with silicon sealer to simulate skin. The blood came from two "iv bags" I made with vacuum sealer bags in a closed loop system. Hang one above the other and blood flowed.

Worked quite well, gave flash back and one could get fluids running if you wanted. But it's a bit overkill for simple practice and was for school.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Pre-nursing student here... Do students still "practice" on each others' veins for this? This is probably my biggest concern (fear, if you wish) in starting nursing school next year. I'm not thrilled at the thought that the first time a classmate will be attempting this would be on me.

I graduated in 1985- and we didn't do IVs on each other back then :)

We did practice IMs on each other (after working over an orange).

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

Pre-nursing student here... Do students still "practice" on each others' veins for this? This is probably my biggest concern (fear, if you wish) in starting nursing school next year. I'm not thrilled at the thought that the first time a classmate will be attempting this would be on me.

Not so much. We had 1 TB sub-Q, 1 IM (NS) injection and 1 IV start, all of which we had to sign releases to do/receive. OJT is absolute crap.

The pool-noodle idea is great & cost effective.