3 IV MISTAKES YOU WILL NOT FIND IN BOOKS

n this video, we feature 3 most common mistakes when attempting to cannulate veins you will NOT find in books!

3:46 1. BE PATIENT: The first common mistake is rushing. Especially in high-pressure situations, there's a tendency to want to secure IV access quickly. However, being hasty often works against us. After you apply the Tourniquet, or venostasis with your blood pressure cuff, take your time to ensure that the veins are adequately filled with blood and distended. Allow a minute or two for the tourniquet to do its job. This little bit of patience can significantly improve your chances of success, especially in patients with tricky IV access

4:36 2. DO NOTE RELEASE THE TOURNIQUET IF YOU FAIL: Failed an attempt? Don't immediately release that tourniquet. If you do, this will waste all the valuable Tourniquet time you expended for the veins to fill with blood. Instead, leave the catheter where you placed it and promptly choose another vein and continue with cannulation without letting go of the tourniquet.

5:05 3. LEAVE THE FAILED CATHETER IN PLACE UNTIL YOU SCEURE IV: After a failed attempt, resist the urge to pull out the catheter immediately. Leaving it in place can prevent hematoma formation, making subsequent attempts easier.