Gaining IV access is an essential skill for healthcare staff and students, but it can be difficult and frustrating, especially when it is difficult to locate a vein on a patient. We have a range of resources to help you practice IV Access, from IV training arm models to our How to Administer Injections Poster which explains IV cannulation step by step.
Clinical Skills Posters for Intravenous Therapy and Other Clinical Procedures
Our range of clinical skills posters provides clear, step-by-step guidance on procedures such as IV administration, catheterisation, and wound care. Designed to support both learners and professionals, these visual aids enhance confidence and accuracy in clinical settings.
Step by Step Guide on How to Administer an IV Injection
Step One:
Begin by washing your hands, introducing yourself and gaining the patient’s consent. Make sure to put on your gloves and apron at this point.
Step Two:
Before you prepare your sterile field, ask the patient to hang their arm slightly over the bed, allowing the blood to pool while you prepare your sterile field. This helps to make veins become more prominent.
Step Three:
To prepare your sterile field. You will need:
⦁ Antiseptic skin wipes (alcohol wipes are preferable)
⦁ IV cannula (in children over ten years old, the pink cannula is preferable as they are stiffer and longer)
⦁ Cannula adapter
⦁ Tourniquet
⦁ Gauze
⦁ Saline
⦁ Cannula dressing
⦁ Sharps bin
Step Four:
Flush the IV line with saline to check the patency of the cannula adapter
Step Five:
On the dorsum of the hand, place the tourniquet 5cm above the chosen site for IV access.
Step Six:
Identify a straight and superficial vein by looking and palpating. Ask the patient to repeatedly make a fist to make veins more prominent and tap on the area with the back of your hand. Take your time to identify a prominent vein.
Step Seven:
Give the site a firm rub with alcohol wipes for a good 30 seconds. The alcohol acts as a minor irritant which helps makes the veins more prominent, in addition to cleaning the area.
Step Eight:
Prepare the cannula by removing the cannula sheath and opening the cannula wings. Slide the needle gently out of the cannula and then place it back in to ensure that the cannula is working correctly.
Step Nine:
Hold the cannula in your dominant hand, between your dominant hand and third finger, while keeping the skin around the vein taut with your non-dominant hand. Warn the patient that they will feel a ‘sharp scratch’. Slowly insert the cannula from a 10-20 degrees approach until it enters a vein. The vein is usually more superficial than it may seem. You will know that you have entered a vein when you observe a ‘flashback’ – the cannula fills with a small amount of blood.
Step Ten:
Lower your hand to reduce the angle of the cannula and withdraw the needle until you see the second flashback of blood. Push the needle forward by around 3mm.
Step Eleven:
Release the tourniquet, then place the gauze under the cannula. Remove the needle and dispose safely into the sharps bin.
Step Twelve:
Attach the extender adapter onto the cannula
Step Thirteen:
Secure the cannula with the strips and the transparent cannula dressing.
Step Fourteen:
Flush the cannula device with sterile saline. Ensure the cannula stays clean via regular IV saline flushing.
Step Fifteen:
Regularly check the cannula for any signs of bruising or damage.
Master IV Access With Our Range of Training Models
Mastering IV access can take time, so why not use one of our Injection / Venepuncture Training Products to build confidence and competence before performing on real patients? We offer a range of realistic, durable models ideal for venepuncture and intravenous therapy training.
Try our Injectable Training Arm perfect for practising a wide range of injection techniques with a lifelike feel. For enhanced realism, the Skinlike™ IV Injection Arm offers skin that mimics the texture and elasticity of real tissue, making it ideal for repeated cannulation and blood collection practice. We also provide inclusive options like the Adult Venipuncture and Injection Training Arm (Black), helping to ensure trainees gain experience with a diverse range of skin tones.
Whether you're a nursing student, educator, or clinical trainer, these training arms are essential for developing safe, effective IV skills in a controlled learning environment.
Our Injection Training Collection is Perfect for Medical Training
If you’re looking for a complete training solution, our Injection Training Collection is a fantastic all-in-one resource. This bundle is perfect for educators, clinical skills trainers, and students who want to reinforce injection technique learning through hands-on practice, anatomical understanding, and visual reinforcement.
This cost-effective set includes the following essential products:
How to Administer Injections Poster - A clear, educational visual aid covering the key steps and considerations when administering injections safely.
Budget IV Injection Pad - A cost-effective and practical tool for learning IV insertion. It offers a realistic surface for repeated practice, helping build confidence and technique in a compact format.
Budget IV Injection Pad - A strap-on training tool designed for practicing intravenous injections, phlebotomy, and blood transfusion techniques.
Budget Multifunctional Injection Block - A versatile training pad designed for practising intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular injection techniques. Featuring simulated skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle layers, its curved surface provides a realistic training experience. Ideal for nursing education, clinical skills training, and COVID-19 vaccination preparation.
