Tip #2 “IV line First”

In most instances you receive your new admissions from the Emergency Department or as a transfer from another unit in your facility. The patient arrives on your unit with IV fluids running through a patent IV. What about those patients that are known as “Direct Admissions” that come directly from the physician’s office and bypass the ED? The patient arrives on your floor with a diagnosis of exacerbation of COPD. His oxygen saturation is only 88% so you place oxygen on him at 2 liters via nasal cannula as ordered. He begins to pink up and is now saturated at 92% with the oxygen on. You begin your admission assessment with the goal of being very thorough and diligent at obtaining his history and his intitial physical assessment. Suddenly, your new patient has increased difficult breathing and becomes unresponsive. There is no pulse or respirations so you call a “Code Blue.” You begin CPR and the team arrives. You have no IV line.

As an unseasoned nurse you will not understand the importance of that IV being inserted the moment that your patient hits your unit until you have experienced what I have just discussed. Be prepared for the unknown. When your patient arrives on your unit make sure that he/she is safe, comfortable and then get that IV inserted. Believe me this simple procedure may save a patients life and will surely diminish your stress level in an emergent situation…..