IV QUEEN

What causes bruising? Especially on the forearm? Let’s start with the conclusion that a) yes, the IV appeared to be placed effectively and b) the IV was removed correctly (see proper IV removal technique in previous post)! A huge reason why bruises appear is from improper insertion which starts at a very low angle and the needle severalties great lengths through all 3 layers of a vein. A large hole or many holes are created when this is done and upon the IV removal, the bloo...d needs to clot in these several areas versus just one. When you swipe right, you can see how the higher angle decreases the length of total insertion and thereby it’s less of a hole for blood to leak out once the IV is removed. Unless the person is on anticoagulants or severely anemic, sometimes you do not notice this happening until days later. This improper insertion, when done in the same areas over and over is what causes scar tissue on patients. We have to be diligent when inserting needles that we are causing the least bit of trauma as possible to the vein. Comment below if you learned something new in this post or if you have any questions! Or tag someone you are currently working with! Knowledge is power! I am grateful to have all of you excited to learn how to help better take care of your patients! #nursing #ivskills #nursingstudent #bsn #er #cna

@intravenousqueen ‘s top tips to help increase your IV confidence!!! I think this is the most commonly asked question. How many of you have struggled with confidence in IV insertions? It’s normal! I know I definitely did when I first started! My goal is to help you all increase your success when it comes to peripheral IV insertion!

Top Tips for Forearm IV Insertions! 1) Completely align your body with the vein! Do not insert on an angle, it obstructs your view of the vein! 2) Be mindful of how superficial forearm veins are! I often see too much or too little of the needle get inserted during forearm insertions. Depending on the size of the forearm vein, aim for just 1.5 to 3 mm (4 or 5 mm is MAX) of the needle to be inserted. If mm is confusing, aim to insert no more than 1/5 of the entire (1 inch) need...le under the skin. The more of the needle you insert, the more likely you are to accidentally cause the vein to blow! 3) Pinky for support is a MUST! This is a HUGE must! You. Need. To. Support. Your. Insertion. Using the pinky finger (of the hand holding the device), place it on the patient’s limb to hold your needle steady. 4) Avoid pulling the skin too tight (taut)! I see this happen all the time! There is such a thing as pulling the skin TOO tightly, this will cause the vein to flatten and the vein frequently disappears! 5) Keep your non-dominant thumb away to avoid issues threading! Before your insertion, notice where your fingers are. If there is a chance that your fingers could get in your way when you’re ready to drop the needle’s angle, move those fingers outta there! I love forearm veins! They’re wonderful because not many attempt to go there. Why? Because they’re challenging! You need to really perfect your insertion steps. Practice makes perfect! Please comment below on this post if you have done a forearm vein recently! Did you use any or all of these tips listed above! What are some of YOUR favorite tips when it comes to forearm veins?

In some hospitals, peripheral IV catheters can remain in indefinitely (as long as they are no signs of infection or complications) while in other hospitals it’s protocol to routinely discontinue them and restart a new one in another location as little as 3 days later. How often does your workplace change out peripheral IV catheters? Is it different depending on what department or unit you’re in? Curious to know more. There’s a lot of evidence based research coming out that su...pports leaving peripheral IV catheters in place when there are no signs of infection. Curious on why there’s a delay in changing the protocols to use more updated research! Share your comments, questions, concerns here! How often are peripheral IVs changes in your unit/department? Don’t forget to include your unit/department!

Today I’ll be demonstrating how to get a smaller vein on the outer forearm. Techniques I’ll be going over in this video include: 1. Gliding the needle from the right angle. You don’t want to over angle the needle, this can increase the risk of blowing a delicate vein. For some patients it is safer to puncture through the skin first then glide the needle into the vein carefully.... 2. Use both hands! Don’t get bent out of shape, let that non-dominant hand DOMINANT. (See what I did there) Take control by manipulating the vein to straighten out. 3. To help you visualize the vein, it can be helpful to position yourself aligned with the vein.

CPR! If you ever tried to place an IV during CPR, you may already know how challenging it can be. My suggestion to decrease the amount of movement in the arms you want to place a rolled up towel under the patient’s elbow. This absorbs some of the shock and makes it much easier to keep the arm steady during needle insertion. If you can’t get an IV successfully in 2 pokes, go for an IO on a unconscious patient (like one having CPR). You don’t want to waste anymore time if their... veins are not cooperating. Additionally, if they don’t have a good AC, go for their forearm rather than up their bicep. With the movement made by CPR, you’re going to be more likely to blow the vein so if you miss a vein higher up the arm, you won’t be able to use the veins below that entry point.