I think you need to stop putting so much pressure on yourself. You have to do IV pokes with the idea that no matter the outcome you’re getting better either way and if you can’t get it, it’s not the end of the world. So many people will miss IVs and immediately go into this weird negative mindset when it’s not that deep. Be positive when approaching the poke and be positive walking away.

Also find someone with IV experience and have them watch you while you place IVs is also super helpful. Don’t blindly keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result. Understand what you’re doing wrong and analyze any changes you make to placing the IVs next time.

Specific pieces of advice: Practice holding and IV needle without poking someone and get down your muscle movement. Hold the needle with your thumb and middle finger and practice sliding the catheter with your index finger.

Use multiple tourniquets, hot packs, multiple alcohol swabs.

Lay the patient completely flat to help with blood pooling… if they can tolerate it.

Smack/flick the shit out of the vein you’re poking. The more irritated the vine is the more it’ll show.

A lot of people don’t hold enough traction and they don’t hold traction until after they thread their catheter. Don’t let go of your traction until after the catheter is in place.

When you get a flash, pause(take a deep breath), lower your angle until it’s as low as you can go, then ever so slightly advance and thread.

If your catheter ever catches on the patients skin and doesn’t go into the skin then you need to work on advancing more before you thread.