Today

Day 7 of Internship
Today I mentioned to a nurse that I was terrible at putting in IV's, and that in med school I was signed off on being competent in placing them by a resident who felt sorry for me after watching me fail at two in a row. The nurse enthusiastically insisted on teaching me tips for successful IV placement by placing a practice IV....IN HER ARM. I whined that I hated placing IVs and besides she didn't need one, and she pointed out that I was going to have to place several arterial lines and central lines, and that being able to place a peripheral IV was an important skill that I might need.

Procedure note:
Peripheral IV Insertion

Method: First an elastic band tourniquet was placed around RN's arm distal to the olecranon fossa. A longitudinally running vein was palpated and noted to be plump and juicy. The area was prepped with chlorhexidine in the usual sterile fashion. Time-out was implied as RN said "Bevel side up!" and MD looked at the needle and said "What?". Before inserting the 22 gauge needle into the large, ample vein, the MD informed the RN, "I'm scared to poke you!", and RN confirmed, "You've got to!!!". Needle was advanced until blood was seen in the flash chamber, at which point MD was completely surprised. With cannula in place, MD advised the RN "I forgot what to do now." Tourniquet was removed, followed by retraction of needle with cannula still in place.

Outcome: Peripheral IV was inserted in RN's arm successfully with no complications.

Then immediately taken out.

With no complications.

The best part? Immediately afterward as we're laughing and the nurse is congratulating me, the social worker sitting next to us says, "Are you a nursing student or a medical student?" The RN informed her that I was a resident.
The social worker raised her eyebrows and didn't say anything.

You know what, social worker?

BOOM! There's an IV! I just gave it to you! I can do that, because I'M A RESIDENT! BOOYAH!

I'm just kidding of course.

We both know I could never place an IV by myself.