Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

  • RN
    • Nursing Clinical Skills
  • Nursing Videos
  • Blog
  • Nursing School
  • Nursing Care Plans
  • Nursing Quizzes
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Jobs
  • NCLEX Review
  • Store

How to Start an IV | Starting an IV Clinical Nursing Skills

This review will provide details how to insert a peripheral IV.

IV insertion is a vital skill nurses must learn in order to provide patient care. IV (intravenous) lines are used to administer medications, fluids, and blood products.

Steps on How to Insert an IV

1. First, gather supplies and perform hand hygiene.

  • IV starter kit
  • Extension set
  • IV catheter
  • Saline Flush
  • Curos cap
  • Gloves

 

2. Next, prepare the supplies.

  • Opening packages
  • Prime saline flush and remove air bubble
  • Flush extension set with saline flush
  • Rotate IV catheter and reseat (if recommended by manufacturer)
  • Prep any labeling
  • and other prep as designated by your facility.

3. Then determine what vein you will be using for the IV insertion.

5. When all the steps above are complete, perform hand hygiene again, and don gloves.

6. Place the tourniquet on the patient’s arm.

7. Clean the IV insertion site thoroughly with Chloraprep by starting in the center of the insertion site and working outward in a circular motion. Clean for 30 seconds and let the site completely dry.

8. Stabilize the vein with your non-dominate hand by slightly pulling the skin taunt below the insertion site, taking care not to touch the area you just cleaned.

9. Hold the IV catheter at its base with your thumb and index finger with the bevel of the needle up in your dominant hand.

10. Tell the patient to prepare for a sharp sting and insert the needle in the vein at about a 20 degree angle.

11. Watch for a flash of blood that will begin in the cannula and progress to the IV catheter’s chamber. This tells you that you’re in the vein.

12. Next, slightly (about 2 mm) advance the needle into the vein some more. Then thread the cannula into the vein by sliding it off the IV needle. It should thread (or advance) into the vein with ease.

13. Take your non-dominate hand’s index finger and apply pressure above the insertion site to occlude the IV. This prevents blood from leaking out of the IV catheter.14. Remove the tourniquet.

15. Attach the extension set onto the IV cannula’s hub by twisting it on securely.

16. Aspirate for blood return from the IV site with the syringe of the saline flush. This demonstrates the IV is in the vein.

17. Then flush the IV site with saline (3-5 mL) using a push-pause flushing technique. For example, you will push in 1-2 mL of saline and pause, and then repeat until the desired amount is flushed in. This creates a turbulence within the cannula and helps clear the line of any blood that may be present in the cannula.

  • Note any swelling at the site or pain reported by the patient…this could indicate the IV is not in the vein.

18. Then clamp and disconnect the syringe. NOTE: The clamping and syringe disconnection sequence varies depending on the type of cap that is used on the extension set. Follow your hospital’s protocol and the manufacturer’s guidelines for the clamping sequence. Examples of clamping sequences:

  • Neutral displacement cap: usually no clamping sequence is required, you can simply flush, clamp, disconnect syringe etc.
  • Positive displacement cap: flush with saline, disconnect the syringe, and then clamp
  • Negative displacement cap: flush with saline, clamp, and then disconnect the syringe

19. Secure the site with the dressing provided in the IV starter kit (please see the video above for complete details). Label the site, if required. Then secure a Curos Cap on the extension set’s cap. This helps protect the site from infection.

20. Dispose of supplies per protocol, doff gloves, perform hand hygiene, and then document.

You may be interested in more Nursing Skills.

Please Share:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Nursing Gear

RSS Latest YouTube Videos

  • IV Drip Flow Rates Drop Factor gtts/minute Dosage Calculations Nursing | NCLEX Review
  • Do Nurses Really Need to Know This?
  • This Vein is Going to Roll... Nurse IV Insertion Tips #shorts
  • Nursing Graduation Spring Class of 2022: Congratulations!!

Recent Posts

  • Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Nursing Review
  • Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Quiz
  • Crying in Nursing School
  • Desired over Have by Weight Examples Dosage Calculations
  • Tablets and Capsules Dosage Calculations (Desired over Have Method)

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Copyright Notice: Do not copy this site, articles, images, or its contents without permission.

Important Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook Nursing
  • Instagram Nursing
  • TikTok Nurse
  • Twitter Nursing
  • YouTube Nursing

Get Free Email Updates:

Enter your email address below and hit "Submit" to receive free email updates and nursing tips.

Copyright © 2022 RegisteredNurseRN.com. All Rights Reserved.