Paediatric Nursing (PAED)
INTRAVENOUS CANNULATION IN A CHILD
Insertion of a cannula into a vein for administration of fluids, medications, or blood products.
Purpose
- Establish vascular access
- Enable fluid therapy
- Allow medication administration
- Facilitate blood sampling
Indications
- Dehydration
- Need for IV medications
- Surgical procedures
- Blood transfusion
- Emergency care
Equipment
- Appropriate size IV cannula
- Tourniquet
- Antiseptic swabs
- Sterile gauze
- Transparent dressing
- Tape
- Gloves
- Saline flush
- IV tubing
Preparation
- Gather all equipment
- Select appropriate cannula size
- Prepare child and family
- Consider topical anesthetic
Procedure steps
- Verify order and explain procedure
- Perform hand hygiene and don gloves
- Select appropriate vein
- Apply tourniquet
- Clean site with antiseptic
- Insert cannula at appropriate angle
- Advance catheter
- Remove stylet
- Connect tubing
- Secure with dressing
- Label site
- Document procedure
Precautions
- Use aseptic technique
- Select appropriate size
- Avoid areas of flexion
- Monitor for complications
Aftercare
- Monitor site regularly
- Assess for complications
- Maintain patency
- Change dressing as needed
Nursing considerations
- Use age-appropriate explanation
- Consider distraction techniques
- Involve parents in comfort measures
Patient education
- Explain purpose of IV
- Teach signs of complications
- Discuss activity restrictions
Documentation
- Cannula size
- Insertion site
- Number of attempts
- Condition of site
- Patient tolerance
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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