Say hello to ultrasound
This is relatively new to me, but it's really quite amazing, espe-
cially for patients with hard-to-find veins, such as pediatric patients,
IV drug users and chemotherapy patients. When you have a really dif-
ficult stick — one where you can't palpate or see the vein — vein find-
ers that use either ultrasound or infrared light work wonders in locat-
ing difficult-to-access veins. Many vein finders come in both handheld
and hands-free models. You just point the device at the skin and click
to display the superficial veins closest to the skin's surface.
Lasting impression
Remember, confidence is contagious and plays a big role. Patients
may not remember much about their surgical experiences, but they'll
likely remember a painful or unpleasant IV start. With patient satisfac-
tion at a premium, it makes sense to master all the first-stick tricks
you can. OSM
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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
Ms. Wright (hmw801@yahoo.com) is a staff nurse at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Utah.
