Obtaining Access

[curious30]

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To those of you out of training and on, how comfortable do you feel placing IV and/or PICC lines? Our hospital has IV teams and nurses in the ER and ICU who have a ton more experience than myself. If they failed then I don't see the benefit of making an attempt myself. Of course, I'm slowly loosing any skill I gained in training. This worries me since IVs are life saving and I may not always practice where an IV team is available.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

To those of you out of training and on, how comfortable do you feel placing IV and/or PICC lines? Our hospital has IV teams and nurses in the ER and ICU who have a ton more experience than myself. If they failed then I don't see the benefit of making an attempt myself. Of course, I'm slowly loosing any skill I gained in training. This worries me since IVs are life saving and I may not always practice where an IV team is available.

IVs? Depends on the age. Older people kinda okay, fat babies or premies not at all. PICCs? I don't think many people in residency or fellowship training get much, if at all, experience with placing PICCs. As for getting more experience, if you ask nurses, typically, they will let you try at least once unless the kid is an access nightmare. At the very least, I think graduating residents should be comfortable with placing tibial IOs.

 

[McGillGrad]

I placed IVs, performed ABGs took blood from babies and infants during my NICU rotation as a medical student. It is silly that pediatricians should take a back seat to ancillary staff when it comes to simple procedures such as IVs, LPs and ABGs.

If the opportunity arises, attempt the procedure and eventually you will be the go-to person. I trained in places where nurses do the easy ones and always ask the docs when it is difficult. It shouldn't be the other way around.