Live sticks

During my medic class we practiced technique on the maniquin arm until until we got signed off and then we stuck each other. I was a popular pin cushion in class as my anatomy is different between my left and right hands. My right hand has the radial artery in the normal positon in the wrist below the thumb on my left the artery is on the inside of the wrist where usually in most patients is a nice large vein. So if you check for a pulse on me in my left side you won't find one in the normal spot. The instructor's point was feel for a pulse before you poke as not every patient is not the same. We needed 50 live successful iv starts as a requirement for course completion. We also give each other Im and SQ injections of saline. Interesting though I have a daughter in the 4 year RN program in college and they were not allowed to start IV's on each other they practiced on maniquin arm's and bannan's and injections on oranges. She would come home on weekend's and i would let her practice on me.
 
What gauge did you guys practice on each other with?

NESDMEDIC said:
... they practiced on maniquin arm's and bannan's and injections on oranges. She would come home on weekend's and i would let her practice on me.
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I practiced IMs on oranges. So for bananas, did they hit an artery by accident? :-)
 
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We used 20 ga. and 18 ga. in class on each other, mostly 20's. She never said if she ever hit an artery on a bannana LOL.
 
firecoins said:
there are plenty of holes in it. It does affect it but not really enough. You know if you missed if you don't get flash, just like in real life. Only in real life its harder. Dummies aren't afraid of needles, don't flinch and have better vasculatur than some patients.
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So why not make it complicated to stick dummies?
 
Well, we used 22s in our lab. And yes, we also had to be signed off on the mannequins first.

I got the hematoma as a result of having very slender veins in my hands. I think what happened is that when my partner had to wiggle the catheter into the vein, so I guess he just enlarged the hole in the vein and that it couldn't close up. It still basically sucked, though.
 
For neonates we had to cannulate the Orange's "veins" .. with a 24 gauge, it does make it interesting.

R/r 911
 
We did live sticks on each other in medic school. It was like the second week of class. We didnt even start on the dummies. It was just like "Here's a needle, there's your class mate - have at it." I personally think it was a good thing. It got us over the Oh S**t factor of actually having to stick someone right of the bat. Plus thus dummies are nothing like real life. Not that I'm saying it was fun. I was the hard stick in class and as a result had a nerve hit, tons of bruises, and a few scars still. But I also think it was good thing because when I had to start actually stickin patients I didnt have any hesitation and I could have a little sympathy (telling your pts, "I know how much this hurts, I've had them myself, but you really do need it," does wonders.)
As far a practicing for neonate, we just did each others thumb veins.
 
Is anyone using Laredal's computerized IV trainer?
 
Wait, Jon, you're talking about something that is a) "out of the ordinary," b) probably costs a pretty penny, and c) isn't about 12 years out of date...

:P:P:P:P
 
For the adult virtual trainer alone, we're talking about $9,500 for the trainer, another $2,495 for the computer module, and countless other thousands for the upgrades.

The infant trainer costs the same.

So together, you're looking at dropping somewhere in the range of $25,000 at a minimum.
 
All the classes I have heard about, including the one I attended, we "practiced" on each other with IV's.

Obviously those who did not want to be involved could sit out, but if you stick a fellow classmate you must be prepared to take one yourself.

We also used the rubber arm, etc. But for exams, only the rubber/latex.
 
paramedix said:
Obviously those who did not want to be involved could sit out, but if you stick a fellow classmate you must be prepared to take one yourself.
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wow that's nice. we didn't have a choice. we have three people in our class who pass out when they get stuck with needles so the instructors just brought in a stretcher and made them lay down on it when it was their turn :rolleyes:
 
Katie said:
wow that's nice. we didn't have a choice. we have three people in our class who pass out when they get stuck with needles so the instructors just brought in a stretcher and made them lay down on it when it was their turn :rolleyes:
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I think that is soooo wrong! So you can refuse health care but not having a needle stuck in your arm by a person whos only learning. Nuh-uh I'd throw a fit for that person.
 
We as well practice on each other. This goes through the entire progam. Funny thing is I rather have someone stick a 14g in my hand/arm then poke my finger to get a random blood sugar *shivers* Pathetic I know!:P
 
CFRBryan347768 said:
I think that is soooo wrong! So you can refuse health care but not having a needle stuck in your arm by a person whos only learning. Nuh-uh I'd throw a fit for that person.
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i think it's more the principle. we were told that we would have to do that in the orientation meeting even before we signed up for the class. after all we are going to be sticking pts, so it seems a bit wrong to want to practice on someone but not be willing to be practiced on yourself. either way we agreed to it at the beginning of class. now if you started to feel really bad they'd stop, but you still had to give it a go. :)

mdkemt said:
We as well practice on each other. This goes through the entire progam. Funny thing is I rather have someone stick a 14g in my hand/arm then poke my finger to get a random blood sugar *shivers* Pathetic I know!:P
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me too! :P
 
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CFRBryan347768 said:
I think that is soooo wrong! So you can refuse health care but not having a needle stuck in your arm by a person whos only learning. Nuh-uh I'd throw a fit for that person.
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Sure, throw a fit, there's the door. Provided that requirements like that are put into writing prior to the start of the program, I fail to see the problem. Don't want to participate with the rest of your classmates? Fail that specific course. I'd say that I'd rather have my arm practiced with for an IV than be the guinea pig for the FAST IO demonstration as in the other thread.

Heck, my understanding is that police officers get to experience being tazed before being allowed to carry a tazer.
 
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JPINFV said:
Sure, throw a fit, there's the door. Provided that requirements like that are put into writing prior to the start of the program, I fail to see the problem. Don't want to participate with the rest of your classmates? Fail that specific course. I'd say that I'd rather have my arm practiced with for an IV than be the guinea pig for the FAST IO demonstration as in the other thread.

Heck, my understanding is that police officers get to experience being tazed before being allowed to carry a tazer.
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Now if theres before hand writing than thats diffrent you knew what you were getting your self into, so its your own fault. If you dont wanna be stuck than you say no. End of story.
 
CFRBryan347768 said:
Now if theres before hand writing than thats diffrent you knew what you were getting your self into, so its your own fault. If you dont wanna be stuck than you say no. End of story.
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The way it worked for us was we had to demonstrate the skill on another student before we could do it on live patients. If you werent gonna be willing to let me stick you, I'm not about to let you stick me. Just fair I think.
 
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