Etiquette ?: Docs/Nurses

[bekkiz]

This is sort of a wierd question, but I don't want to makes the people taking care of me mad! If you get squeemish at blood or needles....proceed at your own risk!

I'm going in for back surgery tomorrow and will obviously have an IV. I have really, really hard to find and keep veins. When I had my appendix out, it took about 6 tries to finally get the thing in! They also have a bad habit of being found and then just disappearing once the needle goes in.

After that experiance (about 7 years ago), I always warn whomever is taking blood or putting in an IV that I'm a tough stick. Is that OK? I don't mind if it takes a try or 2 (it almost always takes 2+ tries), but it occured to me that maybe the nurse or doctor doesn't like being told that? Maybe I'm just paranoid.

I always say that I have a high pain tolerance (I do) and if it takes a few tries, it's not their fault, it's my stupid veins. But again, the thought popped into my head yesterday that maybe telling them is not proper etiquette. Any thoughts? It ok to tell me I'm crazy and paranoid I get that a lot.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I am the opposite... I've never had to be stuck more than once. I always tell the person holding the needle that I'm an easy stick. They always look a little relieved. I can't speak for the needle-stickers of the world, but it doesn't seem like a bad thing to me to let them know it might be tough. You might save yourself a painful experience if the person is new at sticking people, and will pass you off to someone with more experience.

 

[yeartolate]

I am a nurse and if you told me your experience, I would take it to heart (and certainly not be offended) - but I would look first. IF you looked like you were difficult to stick and someone more skilled was on duty, I would certainly have no hesitation to ask. I have staff members ask me all the time for help with IV sticks , and I am not offended.

 

[Mono~rail]

I appreciate the warning. It is nice to have a heads up, and a less experienced nurse can go get a nurse with more experience or a nurse with a special talent for IV starts. Some hospitals have special IV nurses who are specially trained and certified in IV sticks. We had one where I used to work, and she was awesome.

I worked with one nurse in the ER and she was a mega witch - mean as the day is long! When a pt would give her the heads up, she would give them the same speech - "I have been trained to do my job! I do my job well! Let me do my job! I don't need you telling me how to do my job!"

 

[belle&beast]

My first experience with an IV was when I was being induced to have my first child. It took 7 tries and 3 different people to get it. Afterward, I told DH to take my picture with an IV and he looked at me like I was crazy, but did it. I didn't realize there was blood all over the bed from the bad tries! When I went in to have my second child, I told them what happened and they called someone else and she did it the first try. My best friend used to be a chemotherapy nurse and I know she always appreciated people telling her their previous history (although she was great at placing IVs).

 

[barkley]

i had a terrible time with needles. be it an iv or a blood draw-the med staff had a terrible time and would comment that i have very small veins and that they had the habit of 'rolling over' when they would try to insert the needle.

i finaly encountered a nurse who took one look at my veins and asked me if anyone had ever tried using a pediatric needle. i did'nt recall it so she said 'lets give it a try'. she was able to insert the needle into the vein on the first try. she suggested that anytime i had to have bloodwork or an iv i tell the medical person what my experiences had been and suggest that they use a pediatric needle from the begining. i've done this on all occassions, and for the most part they've been very receptive to the suggestion.

 

[freckles and boo]

It seems to me that it is a relevent piece of information to pass on. I have the same problem and I always give warning. Usually it still takes four to six tries even after the warning.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

When i was younger and getting my surgeries, they had a hard time getting any veins in my arm and i would end up b ruised for weeks..After that, i refuse to let them take blood from my arm..Now, when i go get my blood drawn, i always tell them that my veins roll and i typically get a pediatric needle in my hand. I have had a few people refuse to do it, and i have requested someone else (politely of course). Some people tell me they know how to do their job and let them do it their way..Some ask to look at the veins in my arm--I just ask for them to get someoen that will stick in my hand.

 

[m&m's mom]

A hint that may help a little. Drink tons of water today. It plumps up your veins and makes it easier.
I have given blood regularly (sp?) for years and was always "the bad stick". It was awful. When I went into the hospital w/ 2DD it took 5 tries before they called the Certified Nurse Anesthesiest and she popped in right in.
Later I found out the secret to the water. Ever since then it has been a breeze.
Can't hurt to try.

 

[clh2]

The hospital I work at also has an IV team for people who need "extra help" with an IV start. I also think there is a certain protocol that must be followed, i.e. if they can't get it started after 2 attempts that the IV team must be called. We really do not want our patients to feel like a pin-cushion due to too many IV attempts. Unfortunately for this thread (but luckily for our hospital's patients) I am not involved with patient care, so I don't know the exact specifics of the protocol.

Most hospitals have some sort of "patient bill of rights" in addition to not invoking unneeded pain on patients. You are well within your rights to request an IV specialist.

 

[scrump]

I am the same way, nurses always have problems finding the vein, ever since I was a kid. SOmetimes I tell them, but usually the figure it out right away, I really don't have any veins showing on my arms. I remember once they had to stick me through the finger because they gave up with the arm! OUCH!

 

[snowwite]

I.
I worked with one nurse in the ER and she was a mega witch - mean as the day is long! When a pt would give her the heads up, she would give them the same speech - "I have been trained to do my job! I do my job well! Let me do my job! I don't need you telling me how to do my job!"

I have been a nurse >20 yrs and would NEVER speak that way to a patient! She should be reported. I have difficult veins and I tell them immediately to use my right arm and show them which area. If I need an IV I explain my situation and that I will not allow multiple sticks and let them know I will wait for them to call the IV therapist down. I have never had a problem with getting a more experienced person to do it. Most care givers do not want to hurt thier patients so they would rather be informed.

 

[disneynutt1225]

I worked with one nurse in the ER and she was a mega witch - mean as the day is long! When a pt would give her the heads up, she would give them the same speech - "I have been trained to do my job! I do my job well! Let me do my job! I don't need you telling me how to do my job!"

I always seem to get stuck with this nurse whenever I need bloodwork or an IV (which thankfully isn't often). I have very small veins, and I've always specified needing a baby needle. Sometimes they take my word for it, but most of the time they try and try with a regular needle until they are unsuccessful. Then they go for the baby needle.

 

[snowwite]

I always seem to get stuck with this nurse whenever I need bloodwork or an IV (which thankfully isn't often). I have very small veins, and I've always specified needing a baby needle. Sometimes they take my word for it, but most of the time they try and try with a regular needle until they are unsuccessful. Then they go for the baby needle.

Except for when I had surgery and no choice about the big needle I insist on a "butterfly" needle because I know it takes one stick. What the phlebotomist dont like about it is the small bore needle takes longer to get the blood out into the tubes.

 

[Disney-For-Life]

I always tell the nurse when I give blood. He/she will usually make me pump my hand using a ball, or tighten and relax my hand in a fist. The way I see it - the more info you can provide, the better for everyone

 

[PlutosFriend]

I work in a hospital. The nurses I work with appreciate knowing beforehand that you are a "hard stick". This way they won't go poking around on you, they will call in the experts to do it

 

[arminnie]

M dad (almost 87) is a really hard stick. Always has been, but it has gotten worse with age.

One time at the geriatric center of our hospital (one of top 10 in the nation - so very good), they had a terrible time getting some blood. Several people tried before they finally got someone who could get a vein.

After that he was quite vocal about who was allowed to try. He tells everyone (and I think he truly believes it) that they were so desperate to find someone that they had the person mopping the floors come in and give it a try.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

A hint that may help a little. Drink tons of water today. It plumps up your veins and makes it easier.

I was going to say the same thing!

 

[yeartolate]

But nothing after midnight.......

 

[camreesmom]

I am a hard stick also. What is bad for me is that I've had nurses try to insert IV's in me without deadening the spot first. I didn't find out until several years later that they could numb it up first. I've had 5 children, 1 c-section and 3 VBACs and I can tell you that the worst part of all of my deliveries was getting the IV.

The water definitely helps but when I had my colonoscopy, I was NPO for more than 12 hours so that didn't help the situation.

I always tell the nurses ahead of time now, you get 2 tries. I am hard to stick so if you're not comfortable with it, please, please get someone else in here. I know they have specialists at our hospital because when my DD4 had pneumonia last year, they called one in to start her IV and she never even whimpered. That nurse must have been excellent!