Hey all! Never used a forum before, but I figured this is the best place for my question. I've been a medic for over 10 years in a busy system and have always considered myself very solid. Over the past month or so 80% of my Iv's have been blown due to the catheter not advancing. Good flash every time and I haven't changed my technique. I work in big the ER and fire ambulance setting and have prob done thousands of Iv's with no problems in the past. What is the cause of this I've always considered the valve concept BS. Thanks group
IV question
- Thread starter Medic103
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NomadicMedic
I know a guy who knows a guy.
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Yeah. Everybody goes through a dry spell. If you start overthinking it, you'll start to adjust your technique. That's a bad idea. It's like a baseball player who gets himself psyched out and starts to adjust his swing, and all of a sudden he can't hit it all. Just don't think about it. You'll be fine.
Underoath87
Forum Asst. Chief
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Any chance they bought a different brand of IV catheters?
teedubbyaw
Forum Deputy Chief
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This is why I close my eyes before starting an IV.
Jason
Medic
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Hey.
1st - I am so glad that you have been a medic for over 10 yrs. Sometimes, I feel so ridiculously old. I'm at the point where I can say, I've done EMS for most my life.
2nd - I have to agree with the above posts. It sounds like you know what you're doing. And yes, everyone goes through rough patches.
Hang in there. You'll turn it around.
You might be inadvertently withdrawing the needle from the vein before advancing the catheter, or you could be piercing the other side of the vein.
Also, check your angiocaths to see if the hubs are sticking to the needles. This was a problem with the push-button caths years ago.
Also, check your angiocaths to see if the hubs are sticking to the needles. This was a problem with the push-button caths years ago.