Parentz and Kidz Corner > Hospital Q & A
Below are a few questions that kids might ask with some suggested responses.
Q: What is an IV?
An IV is a tiny, soft plastic tube that goes inside a vein under your skin. The nurse uses the IV to help give you medicine or water to help you feel better.
Q: Why do I have to have an IV?
The IV puts medicine or water in your body to help you feel better.
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Q: How does the plastic tube get inside my vein?
There's a tiny needle inside the plastic tube and the nurse uses the needle to help put the tube in your vein. When he/she gets the tube in your vein, he/she takes the needle out and the soft plastic tube stays inside the vein.
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Q: How do you put the IV in?
Before the nurse puts the IV in your vein, he/she will look at your hand and arm to see what your veins look like. Then the nurse will tie something around your arm kind of like a rubber band. It squeezes your arm to help him/her see the vein better.
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Next the nurse will wipe some alcohol over the place where he/she will put the IV. It will feel cool and you will be able to smell the alcohol. (It probably smells like what your parents use when they clean a boo boo for you.) The alcohol will make sure the area is clean and germ-free before the nurse puts the IV in.
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The nurse may put some medicine on the spot where the IV goes. It might make your skin feel numb, like when you put ice on a boo boo.
The nurse will slide the needle and the soft plastic tube under your skin. Be sure to hold your arm still. Before you know it, the nurse will pull the needle out and all that will be left is the soft tube. Then he/she will attach the outside part of the IV.
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The nurse will put some tape on the IV to keep it from moving.
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Now you're ready for the last step. The nurse will flush out the IV with a syringe that has water in it. It's kind of like a water gun. It will probably feel kind of cold when he/she does this.
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Remember, if the IV hurts or gets loose, tell your nurse right away.
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Q: What do I do when the nurse is putting the IV in?
When the nurse puts the IV in, you can watch to see what's going on or you can look at your parent, watch TV or read your favorite book. Remember, it's really important to keep your arm still. Some kids say that when they're getting an IV, it makes them feel better to blow away the pain. You take a deep breath, then blow all the way out pushing the pain far away from you.
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Q: How can it hurt less?
Before you get an IV or a blood draw, we can ask the nurse or doctor for some medicine so that it won't hurt as much. The medicine might make your skin feel numb, like when you put ice on a boo boo. There are other things you can do to make it hurt less. When the nurse puts the IV in, you can watch to see what's going on or you can look at your parent, watch TV, or read your favorite book. Remember, it's really important to keep your arm still. Some kids say that when they're getting an IV, it makes them feel better to blow away the pain. You take a deep breath, then blow all the way out pushing the pain far away from you.
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Q: Will there be other kids at the hospital?
There probably will be other kids at the hospital while you're there. When we get there, we'll ask a nurse and maybe there will be time for you to play with them.
Q: Will someone stay with me while I'm at the hospital?
Someone from our family will stay with you. Most hospital rooms have a chair that folds out into a bed for someone to sleep on. It will be kind of like having a slumber party.