Starting IV's...Do you remember your first one?

Girlafraid13 · Oct 14, 2015

Did you get to practice on a classmate?

I recorded my first time! And got it in the first try ðŸ˜€

shanell85 · Oct 15, 2015

No, I practiced on a fake arm. Then I had to complete checkoff's with the fake arm. Having the real thing would have been better. I sure do hope I can get it in the first try as well.

BiotoBSNtoFNP · Oct 15, 2015

I remember my first attempt on a real patient. I did not even get a small flash of blood. My preceptor tried to take over and "fish" but couldnt recover ðŸ˜•. Then she got a new IV, inserted the needle to get the flashback. She then had me take over and thread the catheter whole retracting the needle. Well somehow I screwed that up too and blew the vein. Then she restuck for a third time and just had me watch.

I dont remember my first actual/successful stick, but I have certainly come a long way!!!! And you will too :)

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 15, 2015

I lucked out and got my first real one on the first attempt. Only have had a few fails in 17yrs. I've also been PICC certified...now, I don't do so many, they come from hospital with PICCs or midlines.

rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN · Oct 15, 2015

My first time....... Oh heck that was really bad. We were allowed to start IV's on our classmates with supervision from the instructors. I was paired with a guy that was, well he was quite fluffy. I got a good flash but forced the catheter when threading it. It ended up bunched up in his arm and hurt quite a lot when I removed it. It didn't take too much time before I became proficient at it but that first was not good.

As a side note, I got to start his IV for real a few months ago when he arrived for surgery. Everything came full circle and was able to hit it without problems.

As a hint, be confident. You will get it or you wont. People that are proficient miss IV's from time to time. Take your time and act like you have done this 100 times before. Take your time and provide small talk with the patient to put you and them at ease. Go through each step before you actually do it and try to relax. After a while it wont seem like a big deal anymore.

Amistad, RN · Oct 15, 2015

I remember my first time ::successfully:: starting an IV which was after a few tries on other patients. I was with my preceptor in oncology and we would offer to place IVs on the new admits so I could practice. A patient came in needing blood products and chemotherapy. He needed a new line started for his chemo alone (which had to be a good one) so I took a look and BAM! there was a huge honkin vein plumping up so I said "I got this!" and started the IV. It felt soooo good. It gets way easier if you keep doing it.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 15, 2015

My very first was a very long time ago. While I don't remember who I stuck (classmate), I remember it was successful. I had a bit of a hiatus over the past few years and I remember (kind of) my first as an RN student, again, successful. I've done quite a few since I started working, and I do not remember my first on the job stick. I do know that I've had patients that were very difficult and some that were quite easy. I've had some patients that looked difficult but I got the first stick and some patients that looked easy but blew every vein I stuck no matter how good my technique was. I'm getting better now and I can start an IV on almost anyone that I see.

While I always select my primary and backup sites, my mindset isn't "if I blow this one, I've got a backup" it's rather "I've got this, the backup is a formality." Am I being a little over confident? Probably. It makes me challenge myself though. I had a patient tonight that was actually very instructive, though I didn't start that line. I've never had good success percentage-wise with formerly "fluffy" people but what I saw tonight gave me some ideas for the future and I'm still going to go for it.

Bubbly26, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2015

My first one was on a live patient. My instructor had explained it weeks prior but we hadn't been taught the skill in lab by that point. Hit it on the first try. I'll never forget it.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2015

I was assigned to a pt that was the typical 90+ yrs old with full code nonsense that really just wanted to be put out of their misery. All the original IVs in the arms were blown and there were no veins to be had. So, an order was put in for a ped IV. I was really not super about that since I felt like we were torturing the pt anyhow (there was a whole thing with a nursing aide feeding the pt and getting way angry with me for pointing out that the pt was NPO for a procedure -- and this poor withered thing just wanted some water) so I was a little more than reticent to try. My instructor insisted but I was like heck no which pissed them off enough. My precepting RN saved me inadvertently by throwing me on a pt I had the week prior who also needed one. This pt was super deep into dementia and I liked them well enough and didn't have the same objections. The pt wouldn't even know what was happening.

The pt laughed and babbled at me the whole way through the experience. Good enough veins, I stuck the needle in, got perfect flashback and....oh god no where's my flush?! I had left my supplies on the other pt's table. One of my homies ran and got me one in a jiff and I got it flushed and taped up and...:sigh: 1st one and done. Felt like a major jackass for forgetting my flush but hey, I'll never forget it again! :up: