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V A S C U L A R
A C C E S S
neurosurgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine in
Gainesville, is "once you activate the safety mechanism, they are slightly
bulkier, and many do not allow you to rotate the catheter off the needle,
so you lose the ability to finesse" what you're doing. He suspects that
these safety catheters have somewhat lowered the success rate of IV
starts even as they've helped to reduce sharps injuries.
Because all safety catheters "act a little bit differently," says Mr. Lippert,
it's important that your vendors' clinical specialists in-service your staff on
how to use the devices properly.
"It does give a comfort level to the practitioner starting the IV," says
Mr. Lippert. "Newer nurses truly feel more comfortable that they're not
going to get stuck. With all of the bloodborne pathogens out there, why
needlessly expose your staff to sticks?"
Sandy Berreth, RN, BS, MS, CASC, administrator of Brainerd Lakes
Surgery Center in Baxter, Minn., has been using safety catheters to start
IVs since her facility opened 8 years ago. She spoke of how they put your
mind at ease. "The big thing with safety catheters is knowing that you
don't have an open needle and that you won't get stuck," she says. "You
tend to be more comfortable with that needle. It doesn't make it easier to
start the IV, but it makes you more relaxed in starting the IV."
Vein finders
Ultrasound for IV guidance appears to be gaining traction, especially for
patients with hard-to-find veins (pediatric patients, IV drug users and
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J A N U A R Y 2013
