A routine IV insertion can become a source of fear and confusion for patients who don’t know what to expect.
Marlene M. Steinheiser, Ph.D., R.N., CRNI®
Chief Clinical Officer, Infusion Nurses Society
When most people think of nursing, they imagine nurses taking vital signs, giving medications, or carrying out prescribers’ orders. The reality is far more complex. Nurses assess patients, interpret changing conditions, make critical decisions, perform specialized procedures, educate patients and families, and advocate for patient safety while providing compassionate care.
One procedure nearly every nurse performs is the placement and management of intravenous (IV) catheters. These are the IVs commonly placed in your lower arm or, in some cases, your hand. In fact, IV insertion is one of the most common invasive procedures in healthcare, with millions of patients requiring infusion therapy each year. It is used for antibiotics, chemotherapy, hydration, pain medications, blood products, nutrition, and many other treatments. Whether in an emergency department, hospital, outpatient clinic, infusion center, or a patient’s home, nurses establish and maintain IV access to deliver lifesaving and life-sustaining treatments.
The Infusion Nurses Society publishes the “Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice,” used worldwide to guide safe, evidence-based infusion care and improve patient outcomes. Nurses specializing in infusion therapy may earn the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI®) credential, an internationally recognized certification in infusion therapy and vascular access.
Yet, the most important part of infusion care is not the technology; it is the person receiving it.
The patient experience
That lesson became personal for me in September 2025, when both of my in-laws, Phil and Betty, unexpectedly ended up in separate emergency departments on the same day. Each needed an IV as part of their care, but neither fully understood why it was necessary or what to expect. Phil developed significant bruising in both arms, while Betty experienced bleeding at her IV site that required intervention.
Watching them navigate unfamiliar procedures reminded me that what healthcare professionals view as routine may feel confusing, frightening, or overwhelming to patients. For many people, an IV is not “just an IV.” It may be their first invasive procedure or one associated with painful memories from previous healthcare experiences.
After they returned home, I invited Phil and Betty to share their stories on video. At the conclusion of the conversation, Phil looked at me and asked a simple but powerful question: “What are you going to do about it?” prompting me to develop a call to action.
So, my answer begins with communication.
Before inserting an IV, nurses should explain why it is needed, what patients can expect, and what symptoms — such as pain, swelling, leaking, or persistent discomfort — they should report immediately. Those conversations help transform patients from passive recipients of care into informed partners who are empowered to ask questions and advocate for themselves.
Every IV tells a story
Behind every IV catheter is someone who may be anxious, vulnerable, or facing one of the hardest days of their life. Technical excellence is essential, but so is listening, explaining, and treating every patient with dignity and respect.
That is what nursing is truly about: blending expertise with empathy to provide safe, evidence-based care while recognizing the person behind the procedure. Nurses turn routine interventions into opportunities to improve safety, build trust, and empower patients to become informed advocates for their own care.
Sometimes, the most powerful question in healthcare is also the simplest one: “What are you going to do about it?”
To learn more about infusion therapy, patient safety, and the work of the Infusion Nurses Society, visit ins1.org. Clinicians can use the society’s AI-powered tool to search the Standards of Practice for clinical questions at ins1.org/ask-ivy.
