When did you become competent with starting an IV and blood draws

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Ok so I'm a new nurse with one week and a half into orientation and yesterday I had my second unsuccesfull attempt in starting an IV...My preceptor must be really thinking I'm slow to learn...I feel I will never learn able to feel the right vein or find it..I really regret I didnt get IV certified or phlebotomy certified prior to starting my first job in a hospital setting..It is worth to mention that we do not have any IV team or phlebotomist,we are responsible for our blood draws and starting/changing IVs..I was really curious as to how long did it take for the nurses to feel comfortable with locating and puncturing veins,any words of wisdom,advice,tips..I trying to sign up for a phlebotomy workshop at the end of this month..I'm under a high level of stress,I work on a cardiac step down unit (telemetry)..I came to this floor without prior hospital experience..I love my floor,my coworkers,patients and even most of the doctors..I also like cardiac specialization-I find it interesting and dont imagine myself going into med-surg now (which I wanted for my first nursing job)...I worry a lot since everything is basically new to me and on top of that I have to deal with a lot of new information,a lot of new nursing procedures.

personally... i acquired this skill when i began to believe in my ability to do so.

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Specializes in LTC, Subacute Rehab.

When we had to practice on each other :idea: Seriously, that was a good start - but I do get to use my skills in my job (semi-frequently), and for our purposes, usually 22ga. placed for fluids (antibiotics usually have a PICC), it serves well. I'm sure having a very elderly population helps... Our IV placements are nowhere near often enough to feel expert, but I feel stable.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Unquestionably, there's an art to starting an IV or the art of phlebotomy, which I have no doubt you will conquer in time. Having said that, I hardly can recall my first one since after that I became the one nurse everyone came to with difficult veins, one of the many tricks I learned is that you use 2 tourniquets instead of one, also place the arm for a minute lower than the body, in other words let it dangle, without the tourniquet also another trick is a warm compress helps it. However, the main thing is for you to remain calm, pull a chair don't hurt your back like I seeing many nurses do. Moreover,make sure you have double of everything close by in case the first stick doesn't get it, also just because you see the vein it doesn't mean that you'll get, the main thing is to feel it, when you do use your index finger to hold it down then with your stronger hand go for the attack, like a Matador in my country would do. In addition, I perfected my technique in the back of an ambulance, while the driver wouldn't miss any holes on the streets :uhoh3:. Lastly, I wish I had you near, I would place you in ER, Phlebotomy dept., and with the IV team for at least a week each turn. In conclusion, I have all the faith in you, that this is just a minor obstacle in your path, best of luck to you in all of your future endeavors~ and Congratulations on landing your first job:yeah:

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Specializes in Oncology.

Never thus far.

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Never. Been a nurse over 20 years!

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Evidently, you have been lucky not having to start one in 20yrs, I been in nursing for 35+ and even now in my role as a MSN, I still start IV's for the nurses that fail, in getting one started on the difficult Diabetes and obese patients. However, I still have the faith that anyone with practice can start an IV :cool:

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Specializes in Oncology.
Evidently, you have been lucky not having to start one in 20yrs, I been in nursing for 35+ and even now in my role as a MSN, I still start IV's for the nurses that fail, in getting one started on the difficult Diabetes and obese patients. However, I still have the faith that anyone with practice can start an IV :cool:

It's finding practice that's the problem for me. We literally never use peripheral IVs. I hate that I'm not able to do it because I really feel like it is an essential nursing skill and almost feel it makes me less of a nurse.

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I bet some of your nurse coworkers might be willing to volunteer an arm. I've volunteered myself several times to new nurses.

I also volunteer my arm for new nurses having trouble with IV starts since I've got easy veins. The more successful IV starts you get, the more competent/confident you will become. But, really, it just takes practice . . . it was about a year before I felt really comfortable. It will be easier, really, it will.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I worked for 2 years on an inpatient unit and never really felt competent at IVs since ours only needed to be changed Q72 hours or when site condition warranted. I was able to get them on nice plump veins, but the little spidery ones always eluded me. Fortunately, we had IV support to call on for difficult starts. For blood draws, phlebotomists did all of our draws. Now, in the ED, I'm 95% competent. I can get one in on most patients, except the ones where I can't see or feel a thing. I just haven't figured out how to find the vein if I can't see it or feel it. And peds. I haven't poked a kid yet.

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Some schools in St. Louis require that student nurses spend an 8 hour shift working in an emergency room so they are able to become comfortable with placing IVs. It is a great learning experience.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Blondy2061, In addition to my prior post, I'm certain that your facility has a fake arm, borrow it and practice, if they don't have the arm, visit the red-cross they have these arms, it might help. Furthermore, I don't like to hear you state that you feel less than nurse because you can't perform phlebotomy or start an IV, don't forget that you have accomplish what many dream of, becoming an RN, and trust me I have met nurses in my position MSN that won't admit that they have totally forgotten how to start an IV, this doesn't qualify you as an RN, there's more to it and I know you're aware of this, just try to volunteer with the IV team and make sure that you begin with someone that has great veins usually the construction/workers are the best and they are willing to help. Lastly, I'm sure that one day you'll look back at this and smile, because you will overcome this little stepping stone, in the meantime be proud on what you have accomplished so far,:yeah: receive a warm hug take care,and keep us posted on your journey :cool:

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Specializes in Oncology.
Blondy2061, In addition to my prior post, I'm certain that your facility has a fake arm, borrow it and practice, if they don't have the arm, visit the red-cross they have these arms, it might help. Furthermore, I don't like to hear you state that you feel less than nurse because you can't perform phlebotomy or start an IV, don't forget that you have accomplish what many dream of, becoming an RN, and trust me I have met nurses in my position MSN that won't admit that they have totally forgotten how to start an IV, this doesn't qualify you as an RN, there's more to it and I know you're aware of this, just try to volunteer with the IV team and make sure that you begin with someone that has great veins usually the construction/workers are the best and they are willing to help. Lastly, I'm sure that one day you'll look back at this and smile, because you will overcome this little stepping stone, in the meantime be proud on what you have accomplished so far,:yeah: receive a warm hug take care,and keep us posted on your journey :cool:

Thanks for your response. We do have a fake arm, and I can cannulate that just fine, but it doesn't emulate a real arm well at all. My hospital doesn't have an IV team. Nurses start their own IVs. During orientation they sent some people to CT to learn to start IVs, but they said there wasn't enough time to send everyone, so those of us that worked in areas where we wouldn't be starting IVs frequently, if ever, didn't get to go. I'm sure if I change units some day I'll get practice- but certainly not in BMT. Thanks for your kind words.

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