Hi friends, in this video we are going to go over three common reasons why nurses “miss” the IVs they attempt to place. All of us have probably done these behaviors at some point, and hopefully by the end of this video you’ll be able to recognize your unsuccessful behaviors and the adjustments you can make to consistently place IVs successfully!

I frequently see nurses “miss” IVs for three reasons: they don’t know their anatomy, both the anatomy of the IV catheter and human anatomy, they don’t know how to “plump” up veins to make them easier to see, feel, and therefore stick, and finally they don’t utilize the resources around them, such as visualization tools and additional lighting.
00:00 You Can Be Successful at IVs!
01:25 #1: You Don’t Know Anatomy
04:30 #2: You Don’t Know How To “Plump Up” Veins
06:40 #3: You Don’t Know Use Your Resources
💉 This content was peer-reviewed for accuracy by Joe Johnson, BSN, RN, CCRN.
I’m Anna and I am a critical care registered nurse. I have worked in the NICU, PICU, pediatric floor, as a STAT nurse, and on my hospital’s critical care children’s transport service. I am also a nursing instructor and love teaching students and new nurses!
Disclaimer: This video is intended for educational purposes only and is not indented as medical advice. While I strive for 100% accuracy, errors may occur and practices may change over time.