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IV Starts for the RN and EMT: RAPID and EASY Guide to Mastering Intravenous Catheterization, Cannulation and Venipuncture Sticks for Nurses and Paramedics
From the Basics to Advanced Techniques
3rd Edition for 2016 is New and Greatly Expanded with 99 pages of text, graphics and illustrations to help you start IVs!
Intravenous cannulation is one of the most difficult skills most RNs, LVNs and EMTs will learn. If you are scared out of your mind about starting IVs, you are not alone. It is an invasive and often painful procedure that requires both skill and practice to master.
Maybe you are worried about hurting your patient. Or perhaps you are afraid of appearing incompetent in front of the patient if you are unsuccessful. All too often it seems easier to just ask someone else.
Like any skill, some will be better than others. Some will learn faster, others it will take more time. Our goal is to provide you a RAPID and EASY way to master the IV stick! Not everyone will become an expert, and that’s OK. But at a minimum, we want to impart every professional with the skill and confidence to start a routine, uncomplicated IV in their patient.
Whether you are a new-grad who needs the essentials or a seasoned professional looking to learn some advanced techniques, everyone can always learn something new.
In depth review of the
Basics to Advanced Techniques
Over 99 pages of text, graphics and pictures
Gauges—choosing the correct gauge
Basic anatomy and physiology of veins
Strategies to distend veins and make them Pop Out!
How to choose veins which to avoid
A colorful, illustrated step-by-step guide to starting a standard IV
4 methods to threading the catheter
3 approaches to inserting the needle
Guide to the “Floating technique”
Visual guide to what you are doing wrong when a vein blows
Finding and avoiding valves
The Y-Bifurcation
Inserting IVs in the elderly
Vesicant medications
Assortment of tips and tricks
By the end you will have not just the skills to start an IV, but the confidence to go out there and give each patient your two best shots.
Example Chapter Text
Threading the catheter
At this point both the tip of the needle and the tip of the catheter are inside the vein. You will now need to thread the rest of the catheter into the vein. The catheter is fully inside the vein when only the hub sticks out. There are several different methods to advancing the
The Two Handed Technique
You have already visualized flash, lowered your angle, advanced 1-2mm and released the tourniquet.
Continue holding the needle in place
With your non-dominant hand, grasp the hub of the catheter and slide it forward into the vein
Slowly withdraw the needle
Place your thumb on the hub of the catheter to hold it in place
Use your index finger to press down above the site to prevent blood from spilling out
The Single Handed Technique
You have already visualized flash, lowered your angle, advanced 1-2mm and released the tourniquet.
Continue holding the needle in place.
Use the index finger of the hand that is holding the needle to slide the catheter past the needle
Continue sliding the catheter until it is fully inside the vein.
With the above two techniques, be careful that you are only advancing the catheter into the vein and not the needle.
If the catheter is inside the vein it should be relatively easy and painless to advance it. Unlike the needle, the catheter is soft and flexible so it will be difficult to slide it in unless you are inside the vein.
If the flashback was very small, you may feel resistance...
3rd Edition for 2016 is New and Greatly Expanded with 99 pages of text, graphics and illustrations to help you start IVs!
Intravenous cannulation is one of the most difficult skills most RNs, LVNs and EMTs will learn. If you are scared out of your mind about starting IVs, you are not alone. It is an invasive and often painful procedure that requires both skill and practice to master.
Maybe you are worried about hurting your patient. Or perhaps you are afraid of appearing incompetent in front of the patient if you are unsuccessful. All too often it seems easier to just ask someone else.
Like any skill, some will be better than others. Some will learn faster, others it will take more time. Our goal is to provide you a RAPID and EASY way to master the IV stick! Not everyone will become an expert, and that’s OK. But at a minimum, we want to impart every professional with the skill and confidence to start a routine, uncomplicated IV in their patient.
Whether you are a new-grad who needs the essentials or a seasoned professional looking to learn some advanced techniques, everyone can always learn something new.
In depth review of the
Basics to Advanced Techniques
Over 99 pages of text, graphics and pictures
Gauges—choosing the correct gauge
Basic anatomy and physiology of veins
Strategies to distend veins and make them Pop Out!
How to choose veins which to avoid
A colorful, illustrated step-by-step guide to starting a standard IV
4 methods to threading the catheter
3 approaches to inserting the needle
Guide to the “Floating technique”
Visual guide to what you are doing wrong when a vein blows
Finding and avoiding valves
The Y-Bifurcation
Inserting IVs in the elderly
Vesicant medications
Assortment of tips and tricks
By the end you will have not just the skills to start an IV, but the confidence to go out there and give each patient your two best shots.
Example Chapter Text
Threading the catheter
At this point both the tip of the needle and the tip of the catheter are inside the vein. You will now need to thread the rest of the catheter into the vein. The catheter is fully inside the vein when only the hub sticks out. There are several different methods to advancing the
The Two Handed Technique
You have already visualized flash, lowered your angle, advanced 1-2mm and released the tourniquet.
Continue holding the needle in place
With your non-dominant hand, grasp the hub of the catheter and slide it forward into the vein
Slowly withdraw the needle
Place your thumb on the hub of the catheter to hold it in place
Use your index finger to press down above the site to prevent blood from spilling out
The Single Handed Technique
You have already visualized flash, lowered your angle, advanced 1-2mm and released the tourniquet.
Continue holding the needle in place.
Use the index finger of the hand that is holding the needle to slide the catheter past the needle
Continue sliding the catheter until it is fully inside the vein.
With the above two techniques, be careful that you are only advancing the catheter into the vein and not the needle.
If the catheter is inside the vein it should be relatively easy and painless to advance it. Unlike the needle, the catheter is soft and flexible so it will be difficult to slide it in unless you are inside the vein.
If the flashback was very small, you may feel resistance...
- GenresMedical
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 11, 2020
I am a new nurse who is now working in an emergency department and I have been practicing IVs on the job but this book was a good guide for helping putting it in perspective. This book was more beneficial than anything I learned in nursing school in regards to IV insertion and practice.
January 14, 2023
Very helpful for a new ED nurse
Read this book because I am struggling with placing IVs as a new grad nurse. I really appreciate the tips, and I plan to use them on my next shift.
Read this book because I am struggling with placing IVs as a new grad nurse. I really appreciate the tips, and I plan to use them on my next shift.
November 18, 2015
Great resource
As a newer nurse who was never formally taught how to start IVs this is great! In school I was told we were not taught IV starts as that was the responsibility of the facility we got hired at. Unfortunately this means I started on the floor with no experience and basically learned from my peers. My peers were and still are a great resource but I often feel my teaching consists of "this is the way to do it just because this is the way you do it" this book does a great job of explaining WHY certain things happen and why we do certain steps throughout the IV starting process.
As a newer nurse who was never formally taught how to start IVs this is great! In school I was told we were not taught IV starts as that was the responsibility of the facility we got hired at. Unfortunately this means I started on the floor with no experience and basically learned from my peers. My peers were and still are a great resource but I often feel my teaching consists of "this is the way to do it just because this is the way you do it" this book does a great job of explaining WHY certain things happen and why we do certain steps throughout the IV starting process.
September 3, 2017
Great to review even if a seasoned nurse.
This easy read book helps give a wonderful mental image to help guide you through the process of placing an IV line.
Even a seasoned veteran would benefit from reviewing the book to help them improve their technique, as well as reinforce their skills.
This easy read book helps give a wonderful mental image to help guide you through the process of placing an IV line.
Even a seasoned veteran would benefit from reviewing the book to help them improve their technique, as well as reinforce their skills.
December 8, 2020
Short and packed with good information
It is short enough to finish it in about an hour or so but has enough good information to highlight and go back to now and then. I think new healthcare workers such as RNs and EMTs would benefit from this book. But it doesn't matter how many times one reads it, one has ro practice!
It is short enough to finish it in about an hour or so but has enough good information to highlight and go back to now and then. I think new healthcare workers such as RNs and EMTs would benefit from this book. But it doesn't matter how many times one reads it, one has ro practice!
May 29, 2023
Thought I might learn something
This book is for students. It hits all the points on starting an IV. I don't believe in the valve problem that is passed down as nursing lore. I place ultrasound guided IV's and when I help a friend out and throw the probe on the site a valve issue has never been the problem. Believe what you will though.
This book is for students. It hits all the points on starting an IV. I don't believe in the valve problem that is passed down as nursing lore. I place ultrasound guided IV's and when I help a friend out and throw the probe on the site a valve issue has never been the problem. Believe what you will though.
April 21, 2019
Don’t bother
It’s was ok. Heard it before . Hoped there would be more to it. Find another book and save some money
It’s was ok. Heard it before . Hoped there would be more to it. Find another book and save some money
January 14, 2023
Good Read
Short and sweet. No fluff. More/better illustrations. Better yet, live picture of procedure with illustrated overlay. Good overall material. Great tips.
Short and sweet. No fluff. More/better illustrations. Better yet, live picture of procedure with illustrated overlay. Good overall material. Great tips.
November 23, 2024
*standing in for Nelson’s manuscript* such a treat to read
March 16, 2016
Great for nursing students and new grads
Good basic tips for a student or new grad especially due to the trend to not teach IV starts in nursing schools. Many of the newer nurses I work with have said it was never taught as there are IV teams or the hospitals want to teach nurse to start them. There are only a few of us that start them as the new nurses are afraid and lack confidence. This book explains the basic skills and every trick I use. I will be recommending this book to others who think they can't. The illustrations are great. This should be part of every nursing school curriculum.
Good basic tips for a student or new grad especially due to the trend to not teach IV starts in nursing schools. Many of the newer nurses I work with have said it was never taught as there are IV teams or the hospitals want to teach nurse to start them. There are only a few of us that start them as the new nurses are afraid and lack confidence. This book explains the basic skills and every trick I use. I will be recommending this book to others who think they can't. The illustrations are great. This should be part of every nursing school curriculum.
December 3, 2015
Great book for nurses!
I love this book! The techniques and tips, within this book are incredibly easy to understand, have helped me tremendously! I have shared this book with other nurses as well!
I love this book! The techniques and tips, within this book are incredibly easy to understand, have helped me tremendously! I have shared this book with other nurses as well!
October 2, 2015
Worth the read
Awesome tips and tricks for new and seasoned alike. You should Never stop sharpening your skills, we always have room for improvement!
Awesome tips and tricks for new and seasoned alike. You should Never stop sharpening your skills, we always have room for improvement!
February 2, 2016
Did not learn anything new
This may be good for students but not helpful to someone with experience. I did not find it helpful at all
This may be good for students but not helpful to someone with experience. I did not find it helpful at all
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews