OSE_1212_part1_Layout 1 12/5/12 10:18 AM Page 22
IDEAS THAT WORK
FIRST-STICK SUCCESS
6 Quick Tips for Painless IV Starts
P
atients will thank you every day if you follow these reader-supplied tips for IV starts.
1. Drink plenty of fluids. Instruct patients to hydrate well the day
before surgery.
2. Numb the area. Inject a small amount of 1% lidocaine under the skin
just before the venipuncture. "Yes, it's 2 sticks, but the 27 gauge is
much less painful than the IV needle," says Angie Reynolds, RN,
administrator of Premier Orthopedic SurgiCenter in Albany, Ga.
"Our patients have responded enthusiastically and sometimes even
report that they didn't feel anything at all."
3. "Freeze" the area. Spray the injection site with ethyl chloride.
4. Apply a bit of tension on the skin. This will help keep your site immobile while starting the IV, says Ms. Reynolds.
5. Give a hand massage. Research has shown that hand massages
reduce anxiety and pain pre-operatively. One facility pointed out
that hand massages also improve circulation to the area, enhancing
venous distention and thus making first attempts at IV placement
more successful.
6. Positive distraction. Distraction keeps patients' minds off of uncomfortable procedures such as IV starts. Try engaging in pleasant conversation.
— Dan O'Connor
2 2
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 | D E C E M B E R 2012
