What is an IV Needle and How to Properly Insert One on Your Own 

IV stands for intravenous, which means inside the vein when translated from medical language. When someone refers to an IV needle, it simply means that a needle is getting inserted inside a vein. The reason for IV needles is to supply nutrients and essential liquids directly into the veins because it reaches the bloodstream faster. It’s often reserved for hospitals, medical clinics, and other medical professionals.

How to Insert an IV by Yourself

We must emphasize that IVs should only be inserted by medical professionals who have had formal training in IV insertion. It’s a meticulous job that must be done cautiously to avoid causing injury to yourself. If you’re in a tight spot and the only option you have is to insert an IV yourself, then here’s how to do it.

• Get everything together that you’ll need to perform the insertion. This includes sterile gloves, the IV needle, gauze, a bandage, and an IV fluid bag.
• Make sure you have the correct size needle for what you’re doing.
• Thoroughly wash and rinse your hands so that they’re completely sterile.
• Prime the IV bag by removing any excess air from inside the bag. Because the bag’s ingredients are getting directly inserted into your veins, the air left in the bag can cause an embolism or death.
• Prep the IV needle for insertion by putting on gloves and selecting the spot on the skin to insert the needle. You’ll also have to prepare a tourniquet to wrap around your arm above the insertion point so that you don’t bleed out.
• Prepare the catheter to insert after you’ve inserted the needle. Disinfect the skin where you’ll be inserting the needle and press the IV needle into your vein. Once you see a little bit of blood enter the catheter, you know that you’ve hit a vein. Pull the needle a centimeter out of your vein and insert the catheter. It would be best to secure the catheter over the lower portion of the catheter hub using a sterile bandage.
• You’re now ready to insert the IV tubing and secure the line with fluids running from the IV bag to the IV needle in your arm.

Final Thoughts

Once again, we never recommend that you insert an IV on your own, but rather that you call the experts at Drip Hydration. Drip Hydration has licensed professionals to come directly to your house and insert your IV for you. It would be best if you never put your health in jeopardy to save a little money and try to insert your IV. Drip Hydration makes it easy and convenient to care for your IV therapy needs.

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