help remembering mnemonic for needle gauge

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hopefully someone can help me remember the mnemonic for needle gauge. I wrote it down but now that I need it. It is no where to be found. Here is what I remember

"green" with envy=larger gauge 18

"true blue"=22gauge

"your chicken"= yellow 24gauge

thanks in advance for any help

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

I've never heard of a mnemonic for this. I also need to warn you that the cannula colors are not standardized. Different manufacturers use different colors on the hubs. This is what I do know:

  • violet or lavender = 26 gauge
  • yellow = 24 gauge
  • light blue = 22 gauge
  • green (Becton Dickinson) or pink (most others) = 20 gauge
  • brown (Becton Dickinson) or green (most others) = 18 gauge
  • gray = 16 gauge
  • red, dark pink or orange = 14 gauge

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Thanks for the info Daytonite....

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