5 Steps to Practice IV Insertion Using a Mannequin Arm

Intravenous (IV) insertion is one of the most common medical procedures in which nurses and medical professionals perform on patients. The purpose of IV insertion is to administer medications or fluids into the patient’s bloodstream through the large, pliable vein in their arm. Although this may seem like an easy and simple task, it requires extensive hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and procedural knowledge to ensure it is done right. One small mistake could cause a patient pain and infection.

When it comes to IV insertion training for nursing and medical students, they will initially lack the confidence to train on real human arms. That is why it is better to have students train using a mannequin arm because they do not need to worry about making mistakes that could hurt the patient.

A mannequin IV arm simulates the physical features and internal components of a human arm, such as the veins and blood. Students can use the mannequin arm to practice their IV insertion techniques as often as they want without needing to rely on a human patient to be available. Most students end up improving their IV insertion skills much faster by training with the mannequin arm.

Below are the five general steps for practicing IV insertion using a mannequin arm.

1) Preparations

The first step is to make the necessary preparations for inserting the IV line in the mannequin arm. Students should practice creating a safe clinical environment by organizing all their sterile tools and supplies in front of them. These tools include:

• The mannequin IV arm

• Saline-filled flush syringe

• IV extension tube

• Dressing

• Medical tape

• Gauze pads

• Medical gloves

• Alcohol pad

• Tourniquet

• IV catheter

Good organization and procedural compliance will reduce the risk of delays and contamination that could potentially impact the patient’s arm in the simulation.

2) Apply the Tourniquet to Locate the Vein

The next step is to find the appropriate vein in the mannequin arm for inserting the IV line. Many beginner students struggle with this step because they often don’t know which vein is the right vein. Since a mannequin arm mimics a real human arm and the veins inside of it, students can continuously practice finding the appropriate vein for the IV insertion.

This step involves tightly wrapping a tourniquet about 4 to 6 inches above the area on the mannequin arm where the IV insertion will go. Advise students to observe the vein swelling under the skin to identify its location better. They can use their index finger to palpate the vein to ensure it is straight and flexible enough for the insertion.

Some mannequin arms have adjustable vein sizes and refillable simulated blood reservoirs for extra realism.

3) Insert the Catheter

Clean the insertion site with an alcohol swab or some other antiseptic solution. Spread the solution around in gentle circular motions to ensure it is spread evenly over the site. Give the site a little time to dry.

Put on the medical gloves and grab the IV line or catheter to begin the insertion process. Insert the needle of the IV into the designated insertion site with the needle bevel facing up. The general rule of thumb is to insert the IV at about a 15–30° angle into the vein. Make sure you warn your students about the backflow of simulated blood coming out of the vein during insertion. The flow back means the insertion into the vein was successful.

Your students must stabilize the needle while advancing the catheter fully into the vein. Afterward, they should remove the needle as the catheter remains in the vein.

4) Secure the Catheter

Tell your students to ensure the catheter is secure so that it remains safely in place. Properly stabilizing the catheter will prevent it from accidentally dislodging and potentially damaging the vein.

Remove the tourniquet after placing the catheter. Apply pressure close to the insertion site to prevent any more backflow. Attach the IV extension tubing or saline lock to the site. Use the medical tape or dressings to secure the catheter in place.

Connect the saline flush syringe to see if any blood returns. Flush the IV line and watch for any potential leakage, swelling, or other signs of resistance. A good mannequin arm will simulate all these symptoms to indicate whether the student is doing the right thing or not.

5) Clean the Area and Keep Records

Students should never overlook the final step of cleaning up the area and disposing of all used medical supplies, such as used medical gloves and needles. All these used medical items are not contaminated, so they cannot be reused. Ensure the students place needles into a sharp container and not the ordinary trash container.

Finally, have the students document the health record of the simulated patient to mimic the record keeping they will have to do in a real clinical setting. These records will include the date and time of the insertion, type of catheter, location of insertion site, and the condition of the arm.

Gather Your IV Medical Supplies and Mannequin Arm Today

Are you ready to teach your nursing and medical students these five important steps? If so, all you need to do now is gather the necessary supplies and mannequin IV arms for training purposes.

Pristine Medical is the top supplier of IV insertion kits and supplies to medical and nursing schools nationwide. It offers all the supplies your students will need to conduct successful IV insertions into mannequin arms and simulated patients.

Of course, the easiest way to get started is to purchase a standardized IV insertion kit because it already contains the most essential IV insertion supplies in one package deal. If you need any additional items, you can buy them separately.