What do your ER patients families say or do that irks you?

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Copying from the OB thread but using ER patients and families.....

I hate when patients say "i'm a hard stick" If I had a penny for every time I have heard this (and usually get a line in the 1st time), I would never have to work again.

What's wrong with informing the Nurse that you are a "hard stick"? Over the years, the usual amount of pokes is three to five times. If I know I can make it easier by informing the Nurse where a vein is or using a smaller needle or using a butterfly will help, why would the Nurse get upset with that? I've had IV's in my neck, my ankles and thumbs due to small veins.

One time, I decided not to say anything because it did seem to anger the Nurse, so after seven (7) sticks, she asked me where they usually get a vein. I told her they usually use a smaller needle (22) or a butterfly and stick me in my hand. So, she did exactly that and she got the IV started.

Remember, the poor patient is getting stuck like a pin cushion, so they are trying to be as helpful as possible to avoid numerous sticks!

I am a bad stick...Just about a week ago I was having surgery and the anestheseologist tried for two or three mins to get an IV before deciding to put me under with the gas...thank god I had asked for EMLA...I know that I am a hard stick so I always ask for it....Even with the EMLA I could still feel it a little bit and my mom told me, "No wonder you felt something, he was really digging around"...by the time I came out of surgery they appear to have tried both feet and both hands because I am still black and blue all over those places...they got, or at least left for after surgery one in a foot and one in a hand...unfortunitally the hand became inflamed, they then left it for a while since i am such a hard stick but one night my hand was hurting which i mentioned to my nurse and she whipped that baby right out...the next morning they brought in an IV nurse to start my other hand she was able to first try but that is what an they are awsome at but it took her a good 5 min to find a decent vein...unfortunatly it was right on my wrist (the top not those veins on the bottom thank god because i have heard that those hurt), so she put one of those iv boards on to steady my wrist.

Meg

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A highschool student nurse wannabe

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Coming from a parent that has a child that has had several open heart surgerys, I tell that to all the people. Before I was able to get some guts, I let one nurse stick my child 4 times before she went and got someone else. It's not that I think people do it for fun, I just do not want you practicing on my child. If you even think maybe you can not get it on the first try, I tell them to get someone else.

Ya. when I was 5 and in the ER my mom let one nurse try 3 times before telling her to get someone else, who got it first try by the way.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I usually say, "no, this isn't a butterfly, it's a little bit bigger it's an 18" hahaha

or when the patient has a "friend" in anesthesia and won't let you touch her even though you could put a 16 in now........................

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

When they come back for the 2nd time in 3 days and complain they arent any better with that strep throat they had and when you inquire about the medicine they are supposed to be on, they pull the Rx out of their pocket and say "Oh I was supposed to take this to the pharmacy?"

make a clinic appt next time....

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
I am a bad stick...Just about a week ago I was having surgery and the anestheseologist tried for two or three mins to get an IV before deciding to put me under with the gas...thank god I had asked for EMLA...

Question for you guys/gals,

I am probably the worst IV stick that you would ever want to run into. When I have surgeries they end up putting one in my foot. Now I always thought I was being considerate when I tell the inital nurse that I am a hard stick and what usually works, (for example nobody has ever been able to get an IV anywhere in my right arm or hand EVER).

Should I just keep my mouth shut? I didn't even consider that this could be irritating to hear!

Cheers,

Lu Ann

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I am a bad stick...Just about a week ago I was having surgery and the anestheseologist tried for two or three mins to get an IV before deciding to put me under with the gas...thank god I had asked for EMLA...

Question for you guys/gals,

I am probably the worst IV stick that you would ever want to run into. When I have surgeries they end up putting one in my foot. Now I always thought I was being considerate when I tell the inital nurse that I am a hard stick and what usually works, (for example nobody has ever been able to get an IV anywhere in my right arm or hand EVER).

Should I just keep my mouth shut? I didn't even consider that this could be irritating to hear!

Cheers,

Lu Ann

WHY does it irritate a Nurse when a patient states they are a "hard stick"? And, the patient tries to help by informing the Nurse what type of needle and where to try? I still don't understand why it angers a Nurse, because no was has really answered this question yet????? Informing the Nurse doesn't mean that you are trying to do her job or that she is inadequate starting IV's.

By the way, it was a Nurse who tried seven times who told me that the next time I need an IV to save that Nurse a lot of time by telling her to use a 22 or a butterfly needle and go for my right hand first.

The Nurses that get really upset are the IV Team Nurses, not the floor Nurses, because the Floor Nurses will only try twice and then call the "specialists" who can't get it either. These particular Nurses are able to numb the area and dig and dig until they get an IV going, where the Floor Nurses are not allowed to numb the area.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Yeah - I'd rather know too.

Doesn't mean that I won't try if I see something, but I'm more likely to look elsewhere first or just go straight to calling someone else - the IV team, the flight nurse or the CRNA.

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WHY does it irritate a Nurse when a patient states they are a "hard stick"? And, the patient tries to help by informing the Nurse what type of needle and where to try? I still don't understand why it angers a Nurse, because no was has really answered this question yet????? Informing the Nurse doesn't mean that you are trying to do her job or that she is inadequate starting IV's.

I really don't get irritated (and I sure never get angry) when someone tells me they're a hard stick. As a matter of fact, I appreciate it when they show me their best veins.

However, about 80% of the time when folks tell me they're a hard stick they're really not. I figure they had a bad experience previously, so I just do my thing. However, it seems like some of these patients are actually disappointed when you can get a line on the first stick. Go figure.

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WHY does it irritate a Nurse when a patient states they are a "hard stick"? And, the patient tries to help by informing the Nurse what type of needle and where to try? I still don't understand why it angers a Nurse, because no was has really answered this question yet????? Informing the Nurse doesn't mean that you are trying to do her job or that she is inadequate starting IV's.

I really don't get irritated (and I sure never get angry) when someone tells me they're a hard stick. As a matter of fact, I appreciate it when they show me their best veins.

However, about 80% of the time when folks tell me they're a hard stick they're really not. I figure they had a bad experience previously, so I just do my thing. However, it seems like some of these patients are actually disappointed when you can get a line on the first stick. Go figure.

I am a hard stick. I have tough skin and most of the veins, in both of my arns, are shot. When I need an IV started I tell the nurse and suggest an area where she/he can make their first attenpt. Most of the time they do not have a problem with it. It is the nurse who thinks she/he can start anyone's IV that generally causes the problem. Please keep her/him away from me.

Grannynurse :balloons:

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WHY does it irritate a Nurse when a patient states they are a "hard stick"? And, the patient tries to help by informing the Nurse what type of needle and where to try? I still don't understand why it angers a Nurse, because no was has really answered this question yet????? Informing the Nurse doesn't mean that you are trying to do her job or that she is inadequate starting IV's.

I really don't get irritated (and I sure never get angry) when someone tells me they're a hard stick. As a matter of fact, I appreciate it when they show me their best veins.

However, about 80% of the time when folks tell me they're a hard stick they're really not. I figure they had a bad experience previously, so I just do my thing. However, it seems like some of these patients are actually disappointed when you can get a line on the first stick. Go figure.

I've gotta say that 80% of disappointed patients must be sadistic, because you haven't lived until a Doctor digs in your neck trying to get a line started.....that's the absolue worst IV I've ever had started, with my ankle running a close second! These people sound like Psych patients??

Correction: I think I meant "masochistic" insteand of sadistic. I'm not sure what you call the ones who like pain or the ones who like to inflict pain....dummy me!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

I had a wife tell me her husband needed some dope quickly

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I had a wife tell me her husband needed some dope quickly

like the illegal drug? you have gotta be kidding me

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