What supplies do YOU use to start an IV?

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Our ER has a committee to identify ways to more prudently use supplies (enviromentally and fiscally.) Emesis basins were targeted because staff use them for everything but emesis, namely as a disposable holder for IV start supplies. (Then they're dumped in the sharps container!)

Our staff is convinced that they cannot start an IV in absence of an emesis basin. I, personally, have never used an emesis basin to start an IV.

Please tell me what the practice is at your institution. These nurses are getting all worked up just at the thought of their pink basins being gone!

Thanks in advance for any ideas you can give me.

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Are they using emesis basins to carry the supplies or are they using the basins to catch blood? I just put a washcloth or guaze under the site to catch any blood.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i bring a pre-packaged IV start kit with me (tourniquet, tegaderm, chloraprep, alcohol swab, gauze), two IV caths (usually an 18 and a 20g), a roll of tape, a j-loop and a 10cc flush. it all fits in my little hand, no emesis basin needed. :)

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Specializes in OB, ER.

I've never used an emesis basin for iv starts. I am curious however what you will do with emesis when the basins are gone? A couple of years ago we put all the iv supplies in each room and it has made a world of difference. I just grab out of the c-locker what I need and place it on the cart beside the patient or on a mayo stand. It's nice because if I need a second iv or drop my dressing or something it's in arms reach.

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Specializes in cardiothoracic surgery.

We use those rubbermaid containers, like the shower caddies you used when you lived in the dorm. We have about 4 or 5 of them on our floor stocked with all the supplies you would need when doing an IV. So when you need to start an IV, you go grab a caddy, start the IV, and put the caddy back for the next person! They work great, we have one for our PICC dressing changes too.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
i bring a pre-packaged IV start kit with me (tourniquet, tegaderm, chloraprep, alcohol swab, gauze), two IV caths (usually an 18 and a 20g), a roll of tape, a j-loop and a 10cc flush. it all fits in my little hand, no emesis basin needed. :)

Me too! I also use a blood transfer device & red, green, blue, purple lab tubes.... & draw my labs when I start the IV. I will also bring a 10ml syringe along & draw the 1st set of cultures if I think they will be needed. I keep a roll of tape in my pocket.

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florence--they use the emesis basins just to hold the supplies. i'm with those of you who say it all fits into my hand, but i suppose the nurses i work with are not very coordinated. i like the idea of stocking supplies at the bedside, but we literally don't have a place for that. the nurses use the basins just to walk from the nurses cart a few feet to the bedside.

bjaeram--we are going to emi-bags. way more functional for actual vomit, i'm sure.

i thought of the caddy idea, but it's too much of an infection-control risk. lots of "isolated" pts where i work.

thanks for all the responses. if there are any other ideas, i'm still listening!

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Specializes in Acute Care/ LTC.

i can't believe they are attached to an emesis basin for iv starts...pardon me but that seems strange.???

i guess i just don't understand the point. just grab all of your supplies (as stated above) and go...

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Specializes in Cardiac, Acute/Subacute Rehab.
i bring a pre-packaged IV start kit with me (tourniquet, tegaderm, chloraprep, alcohol swab, gauze), two IV caths (usually an 18 and a 20g), a roll of tape, a j-loop and a 10cc flush. it all fits in my little hand, no emesis basin needed. :)

Off topic, sorry!

Why are using the 10cc flush on a peripheral line? I thought you only used a 10cc flush on central lines and PICCs?? Do you use them on peripheral lines if you're doing a blood draw?

I'm asking out of ignorance - just graduated, taking boards within 2 weeks - I've never used anything but a 3 or 5cc flush. Please educate me?!?

Thanks!!......carry on. :wink2:

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
Off topic, sorry!

Why are using the 10cc flush on a peripheral line? I thought you only used a 10cc flush on central lines and PICCs?? Do you use them on peripheral lines if you're doing a blood draw?

I'm asking out of ignorance - just graduated, taking boards within 2 weeks - I've never used anything but a 3 or 5cc flush. Please educate me?!?

Thanks!!......carry on. :wink2:

thats all my facility carries is 10cc flushes. i usually flush with 5cc and discard the rest. :)

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LHH--i can understand your confusion. i just started working in this facility 2 years ago and thought it was absurd that the staff was attached to emesis basins to carry iv supplies to the bedside.

unfortunately, they are very resistant to the idea of carrying the supplies in their hands or even in a lab bag (which they could put the vacutainers in to send to the lab when they're done.)

here are the common complaints:

"Where am I going to put everything?"

"In your hands and then on the gurney."

"Then the patient will kick it off."

"If I take it in a lab bag, then I have to dig around in there to find things. With the basin I can just dump it all out."

Can you see what we're up against?

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Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

"If I take it in a lab bag, then I have to dig around in there to find things. With the basin I can just dump it all out."

They couldn't dump the supplies out of the lab bag? Wow, that's a deeply entrenched habit! :uhoh3: I hope I never find myself being that inflexible in my practice..

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