Vein Sites

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55% of NURSING.com users are visual learners, and 35% stop using their textbooks altogether.

I’m a visual learner. I always have been, but it wasn’t until I took A&P that I finally realized it. I would sit in the library for HOURS drawing pictures and diagrams as I tried to learn the material. Today’s cheatsheet provides a visual of the most common vein sites that you can use to get a peripheral IV on a patient. While every patient will be a bit different, these are general locations. When I first started working on the floor as a newly minted RN I was always nervous to start IVs . . . I didn’t want to hurt the patient . . . and I always felt embarrassed if I missed! My confidence slowly grew. I got over these fears. I became more humble about missing . . . we all do sometimes. With time I took on the role of SWAT Nurse. What this basically means is that I was the nurse that was called for RRTs, Code Blues, and . . . to start IVs on difficult patients. I would carry my little tool box with all my supplies all over the hospital poking edematous, aggressive, and dehydrated patients. I learned two things:

You can’t look TOO much. Take your time. Look everywhere. Find a vein you like.
Once you commit . . .go for it!

Sometimes you will get it. Sometimes you won’t. Don’t be hard on yourself when you miss. And don’t refuse to TRY on the difficult sticks. If you get it, it will give you so much confidence. Soon, IVs will be a favorite part of the job.

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