Vein finders

[lkhrn]

Do these work? Need help finding deep veins and on dark skin at bedside.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I have used the AccuVein and heard of the VenoScope.

These devices have helped some people, but they did not help me all that much. These devices facilitate visualization of the vein when I needed to feel the vein to insert the IV line successfully. Visualizing the vein was not enough for me.

[AJJKRN]

I don't think a vein finder (that I'm familiar with anyways) will illuminate any other veins other than ones that are fairly superficial. You may be looking more for a Doppler instead. Vein finders are a nice tool at times but have barriers like not picking up huge bulging rope veins on fuzzier people, etc.

Honestly I haven't noticed a difference on whether or not I can really see veins better with a vein finder on darker pigmented skin either versus lighter tones. It may boost confidence sometimes but old school sight and feel seems to still win over for me. I think dimming the light in the room if at all possible helps the vein finder user to see better IMHO than what skin tone the patient has.

Eitherway, my disclaimer is that I didn't start out with the technology and had gotten pretty darn good at IVs before my facility invested in buying them but I do take them along for the ride when accessible cause whatever advantage I can have helps both me and the patient :)

[anchorRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Using a sono site (or other Ultrasound device) is by far the standard nowadays, but does require training and technique. The last hospital I worked in required you to be checked off to use it.

When I was in Afghanistan, we had a vein finder that shined a red light on the skin and it would illuminate veins (even in dark-skinned patients). It was helpful to locate a vein, but most times still required you to "blind stick" since I still had trouble feeling the vein. I'd say I had success with the device about 50% of the time, which isnt bad but also isnt good since blind sticking is never really a good idea.

[Meeshie]

They're less than helpful, I've found, because there's no indication of depth. That means that if you cannot feel anything you're still kind of stabbing in the dark, so to speak.

[Wuzzie]

My experience, YMMV. The infra-red devices don't work well on people of color, anybody with tattoos or obese people. They work great on thin, Caucasian women and school-aged kids. Sono-Site, Site-Rite or Prevue are the way to go.

[MikeyT-c-IV]

As others have mentioned ultrasound guidance is the way to go! Problem is, they're so expensive and not every hospital has one accessible to any nurse with the determination to learn the technique.

[AdobeRN]

We had one at the hospital - I hated it. I always felt like after using one the infrared light messed with my eyes - we would use it to find the vein, mark the skin and turn it off - then it was like my eyes could not adjust back to normal light and I had a difficult time with focusing while trying to attempt the IV.

[Mr.Bill RN, BSN]

Vein finder works for good veins but don't always expect the image it shows to be accurate. One main reason is it makes the vein larger than it actually is, depending on distance, and your ability to work around the finder. It is useful to have a look if you can't feel. But the trick of the trade is double tourniquet and warm pack.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Best vein finder other than your index finger is an ultrasound machine.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

It works pretty well.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I personally do not find these very helpful even in pediatric world. Part of this is because it gives no concept of depth which is extremely important when placing an IV, and the other reason being I was taught old school to find a vein and place an IV almost completely relying on feel.