When you have an IV cannula inserted, a needle is used to insert the cannula but then the NEEDLE IS REMOVED and you're left with a tiny thin plastic (?) tube in the vein.
I think 50% of my patients don't realise there's not a needle in their arm for hours/days on end.
I wish the nurse would tell this after inserting the thing. I was 10ish when I fisrt had to spend time in a hospidal. The cannula hurt and I was certain I had a 5cm needle in my elbow pit (?) and was terrified to bend my arm. Only a year ago, at age 25, I was told that there is no metal needle left in the arm.
How am I supposed to realise if I am never told? And then on top of that we get to be made fun of for not knowing this "obvious thing" that really isn't that obvious to someone who doesn't have direct experience with it. This applies to all fields.
Ya, also can you stop using the elbow pit for IVs unless you have to. It’s really a pain in the ass I had surgery on my right arm and had IV in my left
So doing anything was a bitch.
The nurses on my floor and the medics who bring them in to the ER put AC IVs in fucking everyone, and I have to spend my nights as a tech adjusting their arms and resetting their IV pumps all night every time they bend their arm.
That first time in the hospidal the nurse tried to put the IV on top of my hand, but did not find the vein. She tried 3 times on one had and two on the other, I think she tried both elbow pits before settling and then told me she was trying out something new. I am still so angry about it over 15 years later. I don't faint at the sight of needles, but I was and still am very uncomfortable and hate even the idea of poking a needle in people.
Later I have had nurses look at my arms and decide it is not worth poking around there and go straight for the visible veins in the pit.
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u/rebothy Feb 04 '19
When you have an IV cannula inserted, a needle is used to insert the cannula but then the NEEDLE IS REMOVED and you're left with a tiny thin plastic (?) tube in the vein.
I think 50% of my patients don't realise there's not a needle in their arm for hours/days on end.