Starting IVs

amber1142 · Aug 21, 2005

Sounds like you might have made the same mistake I was making for a while. The Catheter is somehow ahead of the needle. That will make it hard, well impossible.

I was told *not* to advance the needle at all, rather push the hub and advance the catheter into the vein because that way you won't re-puncture the vein. (Eeek, so many different ways to do it wrong! :rotfl: )

JentheRN05, RN · Aug 21, 2005

I was told *not* to advance the needle at all, rather push the hub and advance the catheter into the vein because that way you won't re-puncture the vein. (Eeek, so many different ways to do it wrong! :rotfl: )

Sorry I wasn't clear. When I said - Advance from there I meant, advance the hub. Not the needle. Sorry about that

amber1142 · Aug 21, 2005

Sorry I wasn't clear. When I said - Advance from there I meant, advance the hub. Not the needle. Sorry about that

Ok, thanks. I wish there was some practical way of practicing on myself. I'm going to run out of patient (not inpatient) volunteers.

amnesia · Aug 21, 2005

Early in my ICU career, I was taught the "start low and go slow" method. I also followed the lab/phlebotomist for a day--That sure helped! Good luck!

JentheRN05, RN · Aug 21, 2005

Ok, thanks. I wish there was some practical way of practicing on myself. I'm going to run out of patient (not inpatient) volunteers.

Lol - funny you should mention that. If your opposite arm has good veins, and you can handle it (it's easier than someone else doing it because your controlling your pain) why couldn't you? I have. It's not easy, especially guiding the cath in, but getting the feel of the vein is what you need I think. So trying to get into your own veins may take someone helping you set up, but you could probably at least get the needle into the vein. I know it's probably not highly looked upon, and you have to be patient with yourself. But it can be done. I used to do my own blood draws :)

ckh23, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2005

Check in the Emergency Nursing forum, there is a great thread on IV tips that are very useful.

Adam D. RN2005 · Aug 22, 2005

I'm having real trouble with blood draws and IV starts. The patients aren't generally very gracious about being used as pin cushions, and I can't say I blame them, though it makes it harder when they say things like, "You don't know what you're doing". (Actually it does annoy me; *everyone* was new at IV starts at some point; how do they think people learn?)
Anyway, I'm very frustrated because I can't seem to do it.

Hey,

Remember when you were a little kid learning to ride a two wheel bike? Well, it is the exact same thing. Learning new skills are not easy. But eventually, just like riding a bike, you will get it, and it will start to come naturally. I just landed my first successful IV access today. It took two weeks before I got it. I didn't even count the tries.

Do I expect to get the next one. I don't know, it takes practice. Being a concert pianist, I can't sight read music for the first time. But I practice over and over again.

Don't get discouraged. Keep a positive attitude. And never give up. You WILL eventually get it. And if you don't get it on the second try with a pt, hand the kit over to someone with more experience.

Stay positive!

Adam, RN

Two weeks on the unit and I love it!!

MedSurgeMess · Aug 22, 2005

I was on my 68th attempt today and finally got it! I just tried to feel for the 'IV tubing' as was suggested on an earlier post, and the lady was very patient and had great veins. I was sooooo excited that I even made my dh take me out to celebrate. Gee it doesn't take much to get me really excited

rockstar79 · Nov 1, 2005

You need to have your hospital buy a VeinViewer from Luminetx. You can view their product at http://www.luminetx.com. You cannot miss with this device.