How to Prepare for an IV Insertion | Intravenous Catheter Supplies Setup Nursing Skill

Summary

In this video, Sarah from RegisterednessRN.com demonstrates the step-by-step process of setting up for a peripheral IV insertion. She covers key aspects like gathering supplies, ensuring sterility, prepping IV kits, and priming the extension tubing with saline. Sarah explains the importance of selecting the right IV cannula size and positioning, highlighting the role of air removal and needle threading techniques. She also shares tips on keeping things organized and labeling the IV for future reference. The video serves as a comprehensive guide for performing an IV insertion safely and efficiently.

Takeaways

• 😀 Always follow hospital protocols to ensure you're adhering to the latest guidelines before performing nursing tasks.
• 😀 Gather the necessary supplies for setting up a peripheral IV, including an IV starter kit, extension tubing, and saline flush.
• 😀 An IV start kit typically contains cleansing prep, tourniquet, gauze, tape, dressing, and possibly a label for documentation.
• 😀 Choose the appropriate size IV cannula (e.g., 22 gauge, 18 gauge, or 20 gauge) based on the patient's needs, and check its color for identification.
• 😀 Saline flush is important for priming the extension tubing and checking the placement of the IV in a vein.
• 😀 Ensure the IV supplies are within their expiration date to guarantee safety and effectiveness.
• 😀 Perform proper hand hygiene before preparing the IV setup, and maintain sterility by keeping supplies sealed until use.
• 😀 Develop a strategic layout for your supplies to ensure you can efficiently perform the task with one hand while securing the IV.
• 😀 Before using the extension tubing, prime it by flushing it with saline to remove any air bubbles.
• 😀 Loosen the cap on the saline flush before connecting it to the IV cannula to make it easier to remove once you're ready to use it.
• 😀 Be cautious when threading the plastic cannula onto the needle, as proper insertion technique is key to avoid vein blowouts.
• 😀 Always label the IV setup with date, size, and other pertinent information to comply with hospital protocols for changing out IVs.

Q & A

Why is it important to follow hospital protocols before starting an IV?

Following hospital protocols ensures that you are using the latest guidelines for patient safety, infection control, and proper technique.

What items are typically included in an IV start kit?

An IV start kit usually includes cleansing prep, tourniquet, gauze, tape, a dressing to secure the IV, sometimes extension tubing, and often a label for documenting date, time, and IV size.

How can you identify the size of an IV cannula?

IV cannula sizes are identified by their gauge and corresponding color, such as 18G, 20G, or 22G.

What is the purpose of a saline flush in IV setup?

A saline flush is used to prime the extension tubing, remove air, and verify that the IV is correctly placed in a vein.

Why should hand hygiene be performed before preparing IV supplies?

Hand hygiene reduces the risk of introducing infections and maintains sterility while handling medical equipment.

What is the importance of priming the extension tubing with saline?

Priming ensures there is no air in the tubing, which prevents air embolism and allows smooth administration of fluids or medications.

Why is there a gap between the needle tip and the plastic cannula in an IV?

The needle extends beyond the cannula so that when blood return is seen, the cannula can still be safely threaded into the vein without causing trauma or blowing the vein.

What is the purpose of loosening the cap on the extension tubing before IV insertion?

Loosening the cap ahead of time makes it easier to connect the tubing to the IV cannula, especially since one hand will be occupied during insertion.

Why should labels on IVs be filled out before starting the procedure?

Labels document the date, time, gauge size, type of IV, and initials of the nurse, helping ensure proper monitoring and adherence to hospital replacement schedules.

What strategy should be used when laying out IV supplies for insertion?

Supplies should be kept as sterile as possible and arranged strategically so that you can access each item with one hand while securing the IV with the other.

What is a Curos cap used for in IV setup?

A Curos cap is placed on the extension tubing's port to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of contamination.

How should the needle of an IV cannula be inspected before use?

The needle should be checked to ensure it moves smoothly and the safety mechanism functions properly, preventing difficulty when threading the plastic cannula.