At long term care facilities access to veins can mean the difference between keeping the patient in the facility and being forced to readmit them to the hospital. Venipuncture is the most common invasive medical procedure and is increasingly difficult on the elderly. Attempts for access can fail and in the geriatric patient group these attempts have a higher rate of failure.
Some of the negative effects of venipuncture failure are:
• IV therapy can be delayed
• Bruising at the point of failed access
• Additional expenses (IV kits, and sometimes outside agencies are contacted to gain IV access)
• Stress to the patient and the staff
• Hospital readmission
Sherrie Dornberger, RNC, CDONA, FACDONA, executive director, NADONA suggests that long term care facilities “purchase a vein illuminator” to help reduce these issues.
Source: McKnight’s Long Term Care News
