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Venipuncture Visual Story

Patient Education

Published July 13, 2021

• Reviewed by a UI Health Care Provider

I will need to get an IV when I go to the hospital.
An IV is a small straw that is put into one of the veins in my arm or hand.
This is how I can get medicine for my procedure.

The nurse will use these to put my IV in:

A tourniquet
A wet sponge to clean my skin. It might smell.
A tool to rinse my IV
A small tube that connects to my IV
A green cap for the end of the tube
A package with a wet sponge on a stick inside. This helps keep the tape on.
Tape to hold everything in place
A soft, white gauze square to catch any drips
A little white pad to protect my skin under the IV
A helper needle that pushes the small straw (IV) into my vein.

IV supplies labeled

Child receiving an IV — The tourniquet is an orange rubber band. It gives a tight squeeze on my arm. This helps the nurse find a good vein.

Nurse helps a child to get an IV — I will hold out my arm or hand. The nurse uses a special light to find a good vein. My veins look like little roads or lines in my arm. My arm does not feel any different with the light shining on it.

I can choose how to make my skin numb.

Numb means I will not feel that spot.
My skin will be numb only in the spot where the nurse puts my IV.

1. I can choose to use a J-tip to numb my skin.

Nurses and medical staff placing an IV for a child using J-tip for numbing — A J-tip has medicine that can make my skin numb in 2 minutes. It makes a noise like a pop can opening. It feels like a wet tap on my arm or hand.

Nurses use a J-tip on a child's arm — The nurse sets the J-tip on my skin. I can ask her to count to three before I hear and feel the medicine. I can cover my ears if I do not want to hear the noise it makes.

Small circle on a child's skin after a J-tip is used — The J-tip leaves a little circle on my skin that looks like a donut. That will go away soon.

2. I can choose to use numbing cream.

A child with numbing cream on their arm — I can have numbing cream on my arm. The nurse will put cream over some of my veins. It is covered by clear tape. It will stay on for 30 minutes.

3. I can choose to use a vibrating tool called a ladybug or a buzzy bee.

Ladybug buzzer is used to distract a child from an IV poke

The ladybug or a buzzy bee lays on my skin.
It makes a sound like “BUZZZ” and may tickle a little.
It is another way to help me not feel the poke of the helper needle.

Nurse and child get ready to place an IV — Everything is ready for my IV to go in. My special toy gets to stay beside me. I have two jobs: Hold my arm still. Take big, deep breaths.

Nurse is about to clean a child's skin — The nurse uses the wet sponge to clean my skin.

Light shining on a child's arm — Sometimes the light is shining when she cleans my skin.

There will be people in the room to help me.

I can watch the nurse put my IV in if I want to.

Nurses and others helping a child get an IV

One person will have fun things to look at.
Another nurse helps me hold my arm still.
My family can hug me and hold my hand.

I can choose not to watch.

Books blocking a child from seeing their IV be put in — I can choose to play a game. I can choose to look at something else. I can focus on my breathing.

IV being put into a child's arm

The nurse will use a helper needle to slide the small straw into my vein.
The nurse will do this in a spot that was made numb.
I might feel some fingers or pushes on my skin.
The helper needle will go away. The small straw stays in my arm.

This is what happens after the little plastic straw is in place.

Nurse putting an IV in a child's arm — The nurse connects the little tube when the straw is in my vein. She puts a little water in.

IV taped in place — The nurse tapes my IV in place.

IV tube with a green cap — I get a green cap on the tubing to keep it clean.

IV that is covered by a soft netting — I might have a soft net over my IV to keep it safe.

Nurse gives a child a prize for getting their IV put in — After I get my IV put in, I may get a sticker or I may get to choose a prize!

Child holds their stuffed animal while laying in a hospital bed — My special stuffed animal gets to sit next to me the whole time! I did it! I held still and I am proud of myself.

The contents of this website are for information purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not rely on the information provided for medical decision making and should direct all questions regarding medical matters to their physician or other health care provider. Use of this information does not create an express or implied physician-patient relationship.