1 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
I
t's no great secret that inject-
ing a small amount of 1%
lidocaine under the skin just
before the venipuncture will make
IV starts a painless breeze for
both patients and nurses, who
can take their time to do the stick,
knowing they aren't causing the
patient any discomfort with the
attempt. The trick, though, is get-
ting your pre-op nurses to routine-
ly use subdermal lidocaine. Here's
how to counter the excuses
you're likely to hear:
1. "It's 2 sticks and it takes more
time!" Yes, of course, but the 30
gauge needle they'll use to admin-
ister lidocaine is much smaller —
and much less painful! — than the
20 gauge IV needle. Stress to your
nurses that when they perform
venipuncture, the patient will only
feel some pressure but no stick.
2. "But it stings!" Yes, but only for a second. Patients might feel a
brief stinging sensation just as the lidocaine takes effect, but the
numbing agent takes effect almost immediately. Stress to your nurses
that they're using an anesthetic with a tiny needle to numb the area so
their patients will feel little to no pain. Put another way: You're using a
PRE-INCISION LIDOCAINE
The Secret to Painless IV Starts
• A LITTLE STICK When it comes to painless IV starts, 2
sticks are better than 1 — first subdermal lidocaine to numb
the area, followed by the IV catheter, which patients might not
feel at all.
Ideas Work
That
