Quote Originally Posted by elnutsmalljaws View Post
I have had about 15 pic lines and the certain veins that they go in (underside of the bicep and the outside vein on the crease of your elbow) have developed so much scar tissue that it is hard to get a pic line in. I don't mind the sticks becasue I am pretty much used to it but when you tell the nurse where to stick and she wants to stick some other place becasue it is "easier" or "convenieng" and the vein blows right away is when I get pissed off. Plus since there are only a few trained individuals in the hospital that can put in a pic line it takes longer especially since it also needs a doctors approval.
I've been a ICU nurse for seven years now....and have placed thousands of angiocaths....when doing so, you have to go with whatever vein you feel comfortable with. If I see a vein on a patient, especially in an emergency situation, I'm going to stick it regardless of the patient's expectations. One thing that patients don't understand, just because they have never done it, is that placing an angiocath is not easy....especially with chronically ill patients....they infiltrate, roll, hide...its difficult. Plus, patient's expect IV's to be placed on one stick....with sick individuals, this rarely happens!

PICC lines are only recommended for patients who are going to be receiving long term care...such as long term antibiotic infusions...and only when no peripheral IV access can be obtained. If you ask any nurse, we LOVE PICC LINES!!! No inflitrations, you can draw labs off of them, and they are just convenient...but they do come with risk of clots and sepsis. Anyways, just a little perspective from a nurse's point of view.

-Rich