We use a “water baby”. Fill a glove with hot water or make a warm compress (we also have heat packs) and put it over where you want to look
It is also good to ask your patient where a good spot is! And don’t just look for veins, feel for them!
I have stuck many veins I couldn’t see but could feel very easily.
Great suggestions here. Also I find if you want to go anywhere in the forearm/wrist/hand area if you dangle the arm down the side of the bed/chair the gravity will help get some of the veins nice and plump which would then be easier to feel than if the arm is just resting parallel on the bed/chair. Sometimes I find patients who are chronically ill often know which veins are “good” but on the flip side there are also patients who tell you 100 places where you can’t go 🙄
If the patient is ambulatory, have them run their arm under warm water for several minutes or soak their arm in a basin of water. This is more effective than just a single hot pack or warm glove.
Depends on the pt. But, its not what you see, but what you can feel. Sometimes some sneaky ones on the posterior forearm. Trust your judgement. If you can’t find anything, could be time for an US IV 🤷♂️
I might never see a vein, but did not miss with
'feeling
' for them !!
Sometimes you have to do a blind stick. I became the IV go to nurse that way. Physiologically there must be a vein there so give it a try. Also double tourniquet also works very well.
Great advice here. I’d suggest making sure the tourniquet is on tight enough and give the veins time to pop out. Feel for veins, don’t rely on seeing and assume all veins roll. 29 years in.
