Where do you prefer an IV?

[NurseOnAMotorcycle]

This thought was triggered by the IV size discussion at https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/size-matters-iv-836846.html

If you are a patient, where would you prefer an IV to be placed? Personally, I can keep my arm straight if it's my off side, and I am not a fan of hand vein IVs for myself, so an AC for me please.

[berk15]

Anywhere but my hand!

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Forearm. Preferably on the non-dominant limb.

[Bouncyball]

I prefer AC of my non dominant arm.

[sbostonRN]

I've only had one IV and it was in my AC. I was afraid to even move the arm. Its a last resort for me because if we can't get one in the AC, we can't go further down the same arm.

I really like the inner wrist, by the thumb. That vein pops on a lot of people and it doesn't infiltrate a lot. Some people have great forearm veins though and I will attempt one if it pops out at me.

[KBICU]

As a nurse it depends what I'm using it for! If I'm desperate ill take what i can get even if that means AC, but for a PIV I'm a big fan if forearms and wrists if possible. One of my colleagues needed one bad yesterday for an elderly 90lb lady who was vomiting and I snuck a 22 just Above her AC :) sometimes you can't be picky but you do the best you can with what you got.

[bsartor]

Hand! This was actually a secret concern when I went to deliver my daughter. Thank goodness my nurse went straight for my hand. I have never had one in my forearm but that would have been ok too. I'm too ADHD to be continuously mindful of an IV in my AC

[theantichick]

I posted this back on the size discussion, but my experiences both as a medical person and as a patient have steered me for a distinct preference for the forearm, even if I have to go on the back side at a funny angle to get one of the more obscure ones. I've found hands to be positional and blow easily, and the AC is even more positional even if it's theoretically a more stable site. I also don't know if it's still taught, but way back when we were told if the AC was used and blew, we'd basically blown the opportunity for anything distal. So I generally start as distal on the forearm as I can get a good site.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Left forearm. Now, I have a giant left AC that never fails me so if it's short term, I'll let them go there. When I have my MRIs, that's typically the spot they use and since it's only staying in for 45 minutes, I don't mind. When I had my wisdom teeth out, they insisted on using this skinny squiggly vein in my right hand... even after I said "my best veins are on the left"... the doctor's response was "we have to use the hand and I have to do this side because this is the side I'm standing on." Once he got it in, he gave me Versed so I forgot about my objections... I did have a bruise for like a week though.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I love placing in the AC

I can start them the best on myself in the Forearm and if i had to have one for awhile I imagine thats where I would want it.

[Overland1, RN]

Whenever I insert an IV, I first look for a good site away from where the arm, wrist, or hand bends. Hands are sensitive, so I avoid those if possible. The best ones are often the sites that nobody else has beaten to death.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Forearm. I have some really good veins in my forearm and they last. every IV I have had in my wrist, hand and AC has blown within 24 hours. Unless I have to have IV antibiotics and then I am asking for a PICC

[sharpeimom]

forearm