Woud this sound "demanding?"

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a quick question... actually I wanted to get some opinions. Here is some background info: I'm a pre-nursing student and after three colonoscopies in the last two months, they have discovered that I have a mass on the outside of my colon that is partially obstructing my colon. I have a CT scheduled on Wednesday. Now, we have found from the three recent procedures that my veins are terrible! I got stuck no less than 4 times each time they tried to insert IVs, and for two of the procedures they had to call an IV nurse to come do it. I did okay the first two procedures, but ended up in tears when we had the same problem when I went in for the third procedure. I was nervous about what is going on with me and tired of the pain of repeated IV attempts.

My husband told me that when I go for the CT on Wednesday that I should just tell them right away to call an IV nurse and not let them stick me over and over. But I'm afraid that I would sound like a very demanding, whiny patient and that they probably wouldn't call an IV nurse without doing their own attempts first. I don't want to be "demanding," but my gosh, it hurts when they can't get those IVs in me! So what do you think? Should I tell them to call the IV nurse and not let them attempt? Ugh. I hate this! Of course, I'm also now terrified I have cancer. This waiting is just really hard.

Thanks for any advice!

Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
I have a quick question... actually I wanted to get some opinions. Here is some background info: I'm a pre-nursing student and after three colonoscopies in the last two months, they have discovered that I have a mass on the outside of my colon that is partially obstructing my colon. I have a CT scheduled on Wednesday. Now, we have found from the three recent procedures that my veins are terrible! I got stuck no less than 4 times each time they tried to insert IVs, and for two of the procedures they had to call an IV nurse to come do it. I did okay the first two procedures, but ended up in tears when we had the same problem when I went in for the third procedure. I was nervous about what is going on with me and tired of the pain of repeated IV attempts.

My husband told me that when I go for the CT on Wednesday that I should just tell them right away to call an IV nurse and not let them stick me over and over. But I'm afraid that I would sound like a very demanding, whiny patient and that they probably wouldn't call an IV nurse without doing their own attempts first. I don't want to be "demanding," but my gosh, it hurts when they can't get those IVs in me! So what do you think? Should I tell them to call the IV nurse and not let them attempt? Ugh. I hate this! Of course, I'm also now terrified I have cancer. Any one have any ideas what could be growing in my abdomen other than cancer? This waiting is just really hard.

Thanks for any advice!

I know from personal experience how hard waiting for test results can be, but besides it being against the TOS to speculate about your illness, it just might make an already bad situation worse.

I feel for you, because I've been there, done that and have the t-shirt. :( I am a 15 year cancer survivor and my veins were and still are terrible. I don't think that you would be demanding if you nicely asked the person to please look and be sure before sticking, and if it's something that isn't right there, to please call the IV team, so that they have something to work with. I'd tell them before the tourniquet is on your arm, like when you arrive for your appointment - because this way they can call and get the appropriate personnel without disrupting the flow of the department. As a nurse who starts at least 10 IVs per day, there are still people where I go to someone who is more experienced, or I'll call the IV team right off the bat. (They really get a little hot under the collar about coming to the ER sometimes, but they will and usually stop being angry at me - the nurse, not with the patient, our IV team is always great to the patients - as soon as they see that we don't want to torture an already sick person with all of us "fishing").

Please feel free to PM me if you are looking for support during this time. The waiting was the hardest part for me.

Take care of yourself,

Blee

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Even when I go for blood draws, I always tell them where the "good" vein is, because I'm a hard stick. I think most nurses or in the case of outpatient blood draws phlebotomists, appreciate this. You're under enough stress now, letting them know and asking for someone who is good at IV's isn't wrong.

Hugs and prayers that your tests go well. Keep us updated.

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My thoughts are with you. As for the IV, of course, tell them about your veins and ask for an experienced nurse to start your line. It's your right and I can tell you that I always appreciated being told this by a patient and never felt like my skills weren't good enough. Do whatever you need to do to make your experience as easy as possible.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Please don't think you're being demanding by your request. Another advantage of immediately requesting someone like the IV team, ER nurse or ICU nurse is that the person that starts your IV will have the best choice of IV sites. I'm a phlebotomist who works part time for an EMS service. It's a little frustrating sometimes when I get asked to do a difficult IV and all the good sites have already been blown. Also, when the patient is anxious and very tense from multiple pokes or even a past bad experience with IV's it can make it more difficult to start the IV. So when they are starting your IV, take deep, slow breaths and think pleasant thoughts.

If you aren't restricted from water intake prior to your CT, you can also try drinking lots of water the day before and the day of your test. This adds more volume to your blood and can make it easier to get an IV started.

One more note, don't get nervous if the person starting your IV takes some time to check different veins or moves your wrist around (this changes the position of the vein in relation to muscles, tendons, etc.). I know I've had some people express concern when I spend a few minutes looking at veins if I already know they are a hard stick. I don't want to stick them more than once, as I know there are limited sites and they've already had bad experiences with IV's.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Oncology, Ortho, Neuro.

I have the same problem, my veins and needles just don't mix. Whenever I have scans sone I head straight for Hematology/Oncology center in the hospital I go to. They usually are sticking people left and right, and alot of the people getting stuck are hard sticks. Every time I go that route, I get one poke and thats that. It is not unreasonable to ask for someone more experienced, and if someone acts like it is that's their own problem.

Awhile ago, I had to go for a PET scan (this takes alot of prep work the entire day before, special diet, no exertion, drinking alot of nasty stuff) anyway, they guy stuck me 5 times and was finally like "well we will have to reschedule you because I can't get a vein":trout:. I told him he was out of his damn mind and he better find someone who could stick me or I would gladly stick myself. needless to say it got done that day.

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It will help if you go in very well hydrated and warm.

Cold causes vaso-constriction of your peripheral venous system - you body tries to conserve its resources for the core, where your vital organs are. If you are warm, however, your veins dilate, trying to help you cool off.

So bundle up!

And no, in my practicum we wanted to know if a person was "hard start," and where exactly they'd had success in the past.

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ICU nurses aren't necessarily the best at IVs. In some ICUs they rarely start IVs, having central lines. I've met ICU nurses who don't even know now because they have IV therapy at their hospitals.

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I'll agree with that. I think it's very unit based. In my unit we typically keep 2-3 PIVs along with our central access. We give lots of fluid and countless blood products on a daily basis and often times have to beg for central access.

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It's your body. You don't have to consent to anything you don't want to.

Really? Is this true? Like when I told the L&D nurse that I didn't want an internal monitor during labor and she did forced one on me anyway because I couldn't move my legs despite telling her "no"?

I'm not trying to change the subject here, but feelings of invasion because of this nurse have haunted me since my baby's birth.

If you'd prefer to PM me, that would be acceptable, too.

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Wow! Thanks so much for all of the great advice and support! You guys are wonderful! Okay, so I will definitely go ahead and let them know ahead of time that I'm a difficult stick and ask for an IV expert.

It's funny, I've spent the last couple of days obsessing about how to deal with another IV insertion to the point that I've distracted myself from feeling nervous about what the test is going to show. But then I got a letter from my doctor today. They removed a bunch of polyps during the last colonoscopy (well, it was actually a lower double balloon endoscopy, though I'm not sure what the difference is) and he said he thought they were all benign. But in the letter today, he said they were all adenamatous polyps and we will discuss the "next step" this week at my appointment. I'm even more nervous now! So I have some unknown mass in my abdomen and some pre-cancerous polyps. I'm 41. My mom died of colon cancer when she was 53. I think that fact makes me all the more scared. I so hope I'm fine. I want to start nursing school soon! And I have a 3-year-old daughter who keeps me incredibly busy. No time to be sick!

Anyway... thanks again everyone!

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You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope no cancer is found and wish you and a quick and complete recovery.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Hang in there. I know all about the waiting game. It's horroble. Went through the same thing myself last year.

Had a 6 cm precancerous polyp.. it was so huge they had to do piecemeal resection. Had to go twice. Did a lot of research on polyps and colon CA in that waiting time. :rolleyes:

We wish you the best, truly. Keep us posted. But remember that while we are concerned and wish you well, we cannot give you medical advice as stated in the TOS.

But come and vent and share all you want.. we'll give you all the support you need. :icon_hug:

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I have a quick question... actually I wanted to get some opinions. Here is some background info: I'm a pre-nursing student and after three colonoscopies in the last two months, they have discovered that I have a mass on the outside of my colon that is partially obstructing my colon. I have a CT scheduled on Wednesday. Now, we have found from the three recent procedures that my veins are terrible! I got stuck no less than 4 times each time they tried to insert IVs, and for two of the procedures they had to call an IV nurse to come do it. I did okay the first two procedures, but ended up in tears when we had the same problem when I went in for the third procedure. I was nervous about what is going on with me and tired of the pain of repeated IV attempts.

My husband told me that when I go for the CT on Wednesday that I should just tell them right away to call an IV nurse and not let them stick me over and over. But I'm afraid that I would sound like a very demanding, whiny patient and that they probably wouldn't call an IV nurse without doing their own attempts first. I don't want to be "demanding," but my gosh, it hurts when they can't get those IVs in me! So what do you think? Should I tell them to call the IV nurse and not let them attempt? Ugh. I hate this! Of course, I'm also now terrified I have cancer. Any one have any ideas what could be growing in my abdomen other than cancer? This waiting is just really hard.

Thanks for any advice!

Ask for the IV team nurse and get yourself an infuseaport soon.

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