So we have this frequent flyer, sweetest lady, absolute nightmare stick. Dialysis patient, both arms basically off limits except one, everyone's tried. Day shift poked her four times and she told me she was ready to just go home without the antibiotics.
I got the ultrasound and sat there for probably 20 minutes, cramped and sweating, and I got it. First try. 20 gauge. Flushed beautifully. She grabbed my hand and said "you're my favorite now" and I swear I almost cried at the bedside.
I know it's just an IV. But it's been a rough month and I needed that one. What's the stick you're still proud of?
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Post replyGenuine question, who covered your other patients for 20 minutes? Last time I did that my charge nurse was nice about the stick and then asked why my 1400 meds were late. We're 1:6 most nights and I can't remember the last time I got to sit with one patient that long.
The hand grab gets me every time. Some months you need that one.
Love that you got it, but four sticks on day shift before anyone grabbed the ultrasound or called the vascular access team is what bugs me. That's a systems problem, and she shouldn't have had to threaten to leave for someone to escalate.
Not a long one, but my proudest was a 24 in the hand of a 90-something with arms like tissue paper. She'd been stuck so many times she started apologizing to ME. Afterward she patted my cheek and told me I had good hands, and I still think about that when I'm having a bad night.