Intravenous Cannulation

• Share this:
• Tweet this

1. Firstly, Introduce yourself to the patient, explain what you are going to do and ask for consent. It is also worth explaining that cannulation may cause some discomfort but that this will be short lived.

2. As ever, ensure that you have all of your equipment ready. This is

   • alcohol gel
   • gloves
   • an alcohol wipe
   • a tourniquet
   • an IV cannula
   • a suitable plaster
   • a syringe
   • saline
   • a sharps box
   1. 

      Intravenous Cannulation kit

3. Wash your hands with alcohol gel.

   1. 

      Wash your hands with alcohol gel

4. Position the arm so that it is comfortable for the patient and identify a vein.

5. Apply the tourniquet and re-check the vein.

   1. 

      Apply the tourniquet
   2. 

      Re-check the vein

6. Put on your gloves, clean the skin with the alcohol wipe and let it dry.

   1. 

      Clean the skin with the alcohol wipe

7. Remove the cannula from its packaging and remove the needle cover ensuring not to touch the needle.

   1. 

      Remove the cannula from its packaging

8. Stretch the skin distally and tell the patient to expect a sharp scratch.

9. Insert the needle, bevel upwards at about 30 degrees. Advance the needle until a flashback of blood is seen in the hub at the back of the cannula

   1. 

      Insert the needle
   2. 

      Flashback of blood is seen in the hub

10. Once this is seen, progress the entire cannula a further 2mm then fix the needle advancing the rest of the cannula into the vein.

    1. 

       Advance the rest of the cannula

11. Release the tourniquet, apply pressure to the vein at the tip of the cannula and remove the needle fully. Remove the cap from the needle and put this on the end of the cannula.

    1. 

       Apply pressure to the vein
    2. 

       Remove the needle fully

12. Carefully dispose of the needle into the sharps box.

13. Apply the plaster to the cannula to fix it in place.

    1. 

       Apply the plaster to the cannula

14. Having checked the Use By date, fill the syringe with saline and flush it through the cannula to check for patency. If there is any resistance, if it causes any pain or you notice any localised tissue swelling immediately stop flushing, remove the cannula and start again.

    1. 

       Fill the syringe with saline
    2. 

       Flush saliene through the cannula

15. Ensure that the patient is comfortable and thank them.

16. NB. As an extension to this you may be asked to set up an IV drip.