Tournequit help

[raindrop]

Hey guys,

I've only attempted two IV sticks. One was last semester and my instructor put the tournequit on the patient for me while I got all the stuff ready.

Well, I had to attempt my second IV on Thursday, and I couldn't get the darn tournequit on my patient tight enough! After 2 attempts, the nurse that was with me went ahead and did it ( I was at clinicals.)

I don't want to sound dumb, but is there a trick to it?

[Aneroo, LPN]

I take both ends, and wrap it tight. Don't know how else to explain it. Some of the cardiac monitors have a button to use instead. It will inflate the BP cuff enough to block diastolic, but isn't tight enough to block arterial flow. -Andrea

[Comicnurse]

I have been a nurse now since 1986, and I STILL do not like putting those tourniquets on. I gave up years ago and switched to a BP cuff when it comes to inserting IV's. This method works wonderful.

Kendra

[CA CoCoRN, RN]

Because it's rubber and you're tying it on skin, it will stick to itself if you wrap it right.

Basically, I apologize to the patient for the tightness, and then I tie it as if I were tying my shoes...except I just do the first "wrap. Hard to explain...but if you've ever tied shoes you know what I'm talking about. You have to stretch the tourniquet and tie it...otherwise it won't be tight.

Like I said, apologize to the pt, but do what you must. Practice tying them on a classmate so you get the technique down pat and don't have to fumble or cause the patient too much discomfort.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Use a BP cuff, its more comfortable and more effective for tricky sticks.