starting IV's pesky valves just a rant

Just a rant, where I currently work we do a lot of team work, yeah!!!! One nurse might be doing the paperwork, the other starting the IV.

At other jobs I used to float a lot, went through times of seldom starting IV's to my current position where we start IV's a lot. I overcame my 90% psychological, 10% technique related, issues about starting IV's. I feel comfortable now but of course do blow them sometimes.

It cracks me up, I just do a mental head shake and eye roll, when co-workers who I know are better at IV starts than me, blow it but say to the patient, "Oh I hit a valve, I got in, you can see the blood, we just can't always see those pesky valves etc." I honestly wonder to myself if the nurses say that to assuage their own ego? Or do they say it to reassure the patient "my technique is beyond question, you just had a pesky valve in the way".

I have started enough IV's, I know how it feels, the catheter advances, the fluid runs then stops, etc. when you hit a valve. To me it an IV acts and feels different with you hit a valve versus you just blew it. We all know, these nurses sometimes even say, "sometimes you can float the catheter past the valve." I think they just blew it.

I always tell the patient if I blew it. I just say I blew it, sorry. I assure the patient if I don't see what really looks like a good vein for my second attempt I will ask a co-worker to start the IV. It isn't written in stone, but we try to limit attempts to two sticks.
Agreed. Pesky valves my arse. You blew it, you should own up to it.I'm usually the one that gets called after someone has tried twice and not gotten it....and I'm gonna say this too....for crying out loud, if you are no good at starting IVs and the patient looks like a hard start, will you PLEASE not stick both ACs and blow those before I can even get into the room? (My own personal pet peeve -- can I tag along on your rant?)

I can say that in my ten years of starting IVs, I have encountered veins that blow when you hit a valve. Sometimes, you can poke through them, sometimes, you can float the catheter in while you flush, sometimes, you can only get the catheter partway in and it isn't going to budge anymore, and sometimes, you blow the vein. I always apologize, and try to explain if the vein does blow because I feel bad for the patient and don't want them to feel like I am playing pin cushion with them. I think it also makes the person who has already stuck twice feel a little better that hey, it's not their technique, it's the anatomy. It has nothing to do with making myself feel better.Everyone has an off day starting IVs. It's frustrating.

Well said Deebles, I agree and this is after 30 years of it lol.

I work on a pediatric unit. I can't tell you the time we spend just looking for an IV site sometimes. There are nurses better than me. If I don't see anything I dont' stick. It takes at least 2 nurses sometimes 3 nurses to start IV's on infants and children. Talk about time consuming. We wouldn't make it without teamwork. Someone sets up the room, someone put's in orders, then at least 2 of us start the IV. One to start it, one to hold the pt still. I've hit valves and I blow veins. The times it goes off without a hitch I count as my lucky day. I do also think you just have off days. Not sure why.