Qualitative study on the factors that increase difficulty in peripheral venipuncture based on nurses’ experiences

Abstract

Objective: To identify the factors related to failed peripheral venipuncture from the perspective of the situation that nurses had a difficulty.

Methods: Ten nurses who were experienced in peripheral venipuncture participated in the group interview. All participants were allocated to two groups. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each group. The findings were analyzed qualitatively from the viewpoint of the situation of difficult or failed venipuncture.

Results: The mean experience of nurse was 9.9±6.1 years and the mean experience of peripheral venipuncture was 5.4±3.7 years. The situations led to difficult or failed venipuncture were categorized into four groups; “cannot have confidence in venipuncture”, “low flexibility of choosing the best vein”, “being unable to calm down”, and “no support system for venipuncture”.

Conclusion: This study shows that nurses cannot keep themselves from imaging failing venipuncture when they face difficult veins. Moreover, nurses may conduct venipuncture without concentrating on it under the several conditions. These factors may lead failure of venipuncture conducted by nurses. In order to increase success rate of venipuncture, we need to improve the venipuncture techniques for difficult vein and to create environment for concentrating on venipuncture.