Okay, so I know this might sound weird, but I have to confess something. I am a nurse, and I definitely judge patients based on their veins.
If you have big, straight, beautiful veins, I instantly love you. You are the MVP. I could get blood or start an IV with my eyes closed. But if your veins are tiny, hard to find, or moving around like they are trying to escape, I am already mentally preparing for a struggle.
I always stay calm and professional on the outside, but inside, I am either celebrating or quietly panicking.
So yes, if you have ever wondered whether your nurse is silently evaluating your veins, the answer is absolutely yes.
Comments
Is that something within a person’s control?
I’m the one with tiny, difficult veins ☹️ it took a phlebotomist 7 tries to get an IV once for a surgery. Let’s be honest, I’m the one who should be panicking when it’s poke time hahaha
I wouldn’t care lol. I try to be well hydrated but other than that it’s out of my control.
I knew it!
I forgive you.
This would basically be the same confession if I as an ice cream scooper was like. “Oh, if you choose ____ flavor, I will be happy to do it for you, because the flavor is close to the front and I won’t get all messy, it’s not super frozen, and it won’t be hard to get out, and it’s still kind of full, so I don’t have to try so hard to get out, but if you choose chocolate, it’s in the back, it’s more frozen and just generally harder to scoop, it’ll probably get all over my arm, and it’s almost gone, and I will be totally mentally preparing myself and exhausted to try and get that for you and all of the 12 other people in line.”
I get it… it’s OK! We just appreciate you’re willing to be a nurse because I couldn’t!
I got some nice veins let me tell you
I judge myself for you guys. I was on hemodialysis for 6 years and got my second kidney last August. My veins are god awful. I immediately ask if you guys can use my feet because they’re the only part on me that hasn’t been stuck to all hell in the past month. That’s usually before the massive medical history discussion so you nurses all look at me like I’m a junkie. Then you read my history and it’s nothing but love haha.
You’d hate my veins! I usually let them use the veins on the back of my hand.
You would absolutely hate me! One time I was in the hospital and they sent in 6 different people to get an IV in me. We would not be friends! 😂
Hahaha:: I have super difficult tiny veins and always apologize profusely and make sure the person trying (multiple times!) knows that I know that this is a “me thing” 😅 I’m sure it’s hard!!!!
I regularly get told by nurses that they wish everyone had veins like mine lol. My old doctor’s office had two nurses who would argue over who got to stick me that time because I needed blood drawn frequently
I always drink a lot of water before I go in for a blood draw at my dcotors office. The nurses love me for that.
Also, I’m a nursing student who is 7 weeks away from finishing my program (fucking finally)
I have tiny veins too. I know the frustration for your struggle. But nurses taking my blood 3 separate times hurts A LOT.
A friend in the psych ward once told me I had ‘great dope shooting veins’
I just do everything in my power to make my veins not visible when it comes to blood draws because I am terrified of blood draws.
I get complimented almost every time I give blood.
I was a paramedic for almost 20 years. Every person I meet I eyeball their veins and how big an IV I think I can get in there.
I get bloodwork done on a routine basis because of a specific medical condition. I have exceptionally good veins—nurses I see all the time don’t even use the tourniquet, I just make a fist and they’re done.
One time I went in and there was only one phlebotomist because someone was out sick. The guy in front of me was back there for about 25 minutes and left pissed and cussing her out. I get called back and the girl was sobbing. It was her first actual day working, she got stuck alone and the person in front of me was on dialysis which is basically code for exceptionally crappy veins. I made a fist, held out my arm and told her a ten yr old could stick in a needle and get a vein. I was definitely her favorite patient of the day.
I’m a former nurse with tiny hard to get veins. I’m so nonchalant about being poked multiple times. I tell whoever is starting the IV to do what they need to do and don’t worry about the extra pokes.
Nurses have complimented my veins on numerous occasions and I take a certain pride in it
Would downing a bunch of water beforehand help expand the veins?
What level of nurse are you? CNA, LVN, ASN, BSN, etc…
I’ve been told several times I have nice veins. Didn’t think that was something you could me complimented on, but I guess you can lol
I have been told my veins are beautiful … nurses get so excited 😂
Also, it would help of nurses took blood from my veiny arm (right) instead of my left. I try to tell them but they just proceed to fail to poke my left arm…then relenting and going to my right. Like why…this was especially brutal when I was pregnant and had to get all the blood work done 😭😭
I drink gallons of water before a blood draw so you will like me and my veins.
But I judge you when you absolutely maul my arms and hands with five attempts and no success and have to call a supervisor to do it.
I’m a bad vein person. Seems to run in my mom’s family. Had a surgery in September and they have to bust out the vein finder and then proceeded to move the needle around to catch it. Even my husband was cringing. I am also terrified of needles so that sucked.
I have pretty good veins and was once stuck a total of 3 times before they got the IV in. 😩
Granted, I was essentially dehydrated because I was told not to eat or drink for several hours before but still, HOW?!
I’m already embarrassed by the time I sit in your chair. Ex IV drug user who was born with small veins.
I’m your nightmare. No one has ever gotten my veins first try. I know it sucks for you guys… sucks for us too.
Good veins here☝🏻🤓
This is totally fair. I as a patient judge my nurses right back using similar criteria. You’ve got two tries to start the IV or blood draw before I ask for someone to find me the real MVP who always ends up being a 5′ tall 50 year old Filipino nurse that can thread a needle with their eyes closed.
I honestly love having IVs.They feel so good, and I like to watch how they do it. All the nurses always say complements about my veins, and I think those are the only ones that make me blush.
I have garbage veins but I try to help. I’m calm, I make jokes while I am being poked and gouged and like OP I should be the one who panics😂 also 1000% chug water before and I do pushups on the wall in the bathroom (bc it would look VERY odd in the lobby) this also helps!
Mine are eh, they’re not big and beautiful but some days the pop is a lot better then others… other days I get 3-4 pokes per arm :/
I always warn anyone coming at me with a needle that I am the problem child. But I also give them tips. Like I need all the warms for them to pop out. Get me blankets, get me socks, get me little instant heat packs and slap it where you want that needle to go. And if you try to talk to me about what you’re doing with that needle (like that you blew my vein or they’re so fragile) or I see what you’re doing with that needle, I WILL pass out.
Lmfao, this.
Could you please indulge my curiosity and maybe make your life better at the same time, is there a way develop or train my veins to be easier for y’all? Lifestyle changes or such?
Yessssssss. One thing having Ehlers Danlos and high blood pressure helps me with. There is a small group of people out there who secretly love me, lol
I had to get and IV hooked up a few weeks ago and I think it took about 4 people to get it in, they just like wiggle around a bunch. I can see them pretty well but it’s like once the needle goes for it my veins running away 🏃♂️
I donated plasma for years, like 4 years in a row. I have a huge scare from the 18 gage needles they used. But it’s still the easiest place to get blood from. I have to tell the nurses that I donated plasma or I get looked at wierd. But with no other marks, it’s the most logical answer. Just sucks to have to explain every time. It’s been many a year since I have done that. So the scare has faded quite a bit. But it used to be kind of a nuisance.
Ngl, I’m the mvp and nurses know it. 🙂
Nurses love my veins on my hands. They bulge out without using a band. When they tie my arm, they really become prominent. I’ve had a few nurses in the military say it’s easy to draw blood. Lucky for me, I don’t visit doctors or nurses often anymore.
That’s okay as an ex addict with 10 years clean I judge you on your ability to hit my vein lol. I have horrible veins but I’ve had top notch nurses blow my mind when they got it fast, I’ve also had one where I’ve had to sit there a while get poked a few times then have to go to my doctors and get it done.
I have terrible veins. I do however disclose this and show the locations where blood can be drawn, the location only the boss level nurse can hit, and explain that while yes, the veins on my other arm “look” nicer, they are not in fact tappable.
I judge the nurses based on whether they know of they can get mine and if they listen to what I said If they admit they can’t before trying I have infinitely more respect for them then the two stick needle wiggler who still had to get someone else. Know your limits.
I have shit for veins in my inner elbow. Go for my wrist or hand…even my foot!
Stay the hell out of my ditch and you can pull 12 vials for all I care.
Nurses are good once I explain where the sweet spot is and where to avoid a valve.
lol. It’s okay. Us patients, judge yall as well for your skill level. I have big, beautiful, easy veins. According to several phlebotomist and nurses, so when they “cant get it” I really judge hard.
I warn people every single time that my veins are impossible to find and you will have to take blood out of my hand. No one ever believes me, I end up with bruises from them digging around and they eventually end up taking the blood from my hand. I really hate getting blood drawn.
I have very good veins and also an intense fear of ever thinking about veins and I know a lot of nurses who are always grabbing at my arms and talking about them. I hate it. 🤣
Honestly this sounds like every person who’d be in that situation. Also I have a phobia of needles
I have big and straight veins. Dont know if they are beautyful but they stand out. Is this even somehow sexy?
Well duh. You and probably every other medical profession that has to stick needles into veins
I could spin you around 3 times blindfolded before handing you the IV and you still wouldn’t miss… on either arm. Have never had anyone miss, and I regularly get IV therapy.
The feeling is mutual lol. As someone with tiny veins, I judge you too. I mentally preparing for you to take forever to find it and make me uncomfortable.
I had to have an IV yesterday, and my nurse was amazing. The only option for the IV was my left hand. My nurse took her time. She made sure my vein was ready before sticking me, and did her due diligence in making sure it flowed. It was a positional IV but successful. She got it on her first try, and I appreciated that more than anything.
Kudos to you and your fellow nurses.
Every time I’ve needed an IV, they either had to bring in an Ultrasound machine or call some vein expert back from their lunch break because the two newbies tried 3x in different spots and couldn’t get it in. My veins are tiny and hard to find I guess. I donated blood one time, my arm hurt like it had nerve damage for a month, I imagine my veins aren’t the good type. The expert I saw for my IV once asked if I was a cancer patient, I wasn’t but maybe those patients have bad veins too.
I am fully aware my veins are assholes. I always say it upfront. As a result, I never complain if I need to be stuck a bunch. I judge my veins too.
I’m so sorry you have to deal with people like me! After a traumatic accident, no one in the ambulance could get a vein and neither could anyone in the ER. After hopelessly digging around for veins for far too long, they called down a phlebotomist, who got it on the first try. He was the hero that day. If I know I’m having blood drawn, it’s water, water, water for 24hrs beforehand and I always warn them they’ll need a butterfly needle. One nurse used a regular needle on me recently and “telescoped” the vein partially into itself. I have a high pain tolerance, especially for needle pain, but that nearly lifted me straight out of my chair. I felt so bad for the nurse—She was mortified! Thank you for all you do! It can’t be easy.
I have terrible arm veins they can NEVER find them. But, I have a huge thick one that runs down my hand. I used to get blood drawn so often that they knew to pull from my hand lol. Sometimes it wouldn’t even bruise!
a VEINS FINDER is no good? Maybe it will help not judge so much 😁
When I went in for surgery once, I was so anxious about the ’24 hour no eating’ thing that I ended up starving myself for a day and a half. The nurse had to flick my wrist several times to get my veins to appear, and she did indeed seem frustrated -.-‘
I read this as “I am secretly terrified of being judged if I miss your vein on the first try.” 😆
At least you keep it to yourself 😅 had a phlebotomist tell me, “I hate getting patients like you. Makes me feel like I can’t do my job right.” He was not joking. Best part was, someone else came in (older lady, think McGonagall-esque) and got it no problem. Bro was fuming.
When I was a medic in the US Army I used to let the trainees practice IVs on me. I could even start one on my own hand to show them how to do them. I’ve been told I have great veins, but I’ve never dated any nurses so I didn’t know it was a flex.
My sister is a nurse and she is the last person to judge anyone.
I have great veins, which is awesome because I have a strong needle phobia, so at least blood draws are over quickly and mostly painless. I had to go to the ER awhile ago and they were getting ready to start an IV. I proudly announced that I have great veins, until I remembered that the IV was because of persistent nausea and dehydration…. Welp.
Giant veins all over that don’t roll. And I will judge you if you “dig”. (And will probably pass out)
Am a nurse. Happy to let even newbies try.
I had a nurse come up to me in an airport waiting to board and tell me how awesome my veins were and that I should be proud of them. 🤣We both laughed about it. I’m in drug research so I get it.
That’s veinist!
I’ve hade nurses come up to me and tell me they like my veins 😂